Communication system, monitoring system and related methods

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are a communication system, a monitoring system for in-situ monitoring of a substance used in a gas scrubbing process, and related methods. The monitoring system can be used to monitor the at least one substance and provide treatment data for treating the at least one substance. The communication system includes a cloud server, a first server, a second server, and a third server. The first and second servers respectively include first and second communication interfaces configured to provide spectral information to the cloud server. 
     The cloud server is configured to
         generate a calibration model including at least one parameter;   apply the calibration model to the spectral information provided by the second server, whereby at least one value for the at least one parameter is extracted; and   provide the at least one value for the at least one parameter to the first server via the first communication interface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a communication system, to a monitoring systemfor in-situ monitoring of at least one substance used in a gas scrubbingprocess, wherein the monitoring system comprises the communicationsystem, as well as to related methods. The monitoring system can, viathe communication system, be used for the monitoring of the at least onesubstance used in the gas scrubbing process and for providing treatmentdata for treating the at least one substance as used in the gasscrubbing process.

PRIOR ART

Customers use solvents in their gas treatment plants. The solvent which,generally, ages over time is analyzed from time to time in order toensure its effectiveness and to enable a stable operation of the gastreatment plant. For this purpose, state-of-the-art analytic methodsdetermine values of parameters that influence a performance of a gastreatment installation, wherein the analytic methods include but are notlimited to gas chromatography (GC), high performance liquidchromatography (HPLC) and Karl Fischer titration, which generallyrequire expensive equipment, well-equipped labs, experienced andwell-trained staff.

Today, the analytic methods are performed in selected laboratories in anumber of countries. Since the solvent may be classified as a dual-usegood, shipping of samples is a complicated and time-consuming process.Usually, a shipper needs export and import permissions from therespective countries. As a result, the whole process of sampling,shipping, analyzing and reporting can take weeks or months.

Various analytic methods for amine solutions used in CO₂ capturing areknown:

DE 103 22 439 A1 discloses a method for determining an isomercomposition in an isocyanate isomer mixture, wherein a spectrum of theisomer mixture is recorded and the spectrum is entered into achemometric calibration model.

As described by A. Einbu et al., Online analysis of amine concentrationand CO ₂ loading in MEA solutions by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, EnergyProcedia 23 (2012), pp. 55-63, aqueous solutions of monoethanolamine(MEA) are widely studied for post-combustion carbon capturingapplications. For this purpose, an infrared (IR) instrument inattenuated total reflection mode over a wavelength of 2.5 μm to 14 μm isused. Based on IR data, MEA and CO₂ could be predicted successfully overa wide range of concentrations.

However, Eckeveld et al., Online Monitoring of the Solvent and AbsorbedAcid Gas Concentration in a CO₂ Capture Process Using Monoethanolamine,Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2014, 53, pp. 5515-5523 comments to the IR resultsof A. Einbu et al that the obtained results were promising with respectto predictive accuracy, however, there are some disadvantages related tothe use of an IR instrument, firstly, relatively high cost of therequired apparatus and, further, a need for it to be located within afew meters of the process.” Instead, Eckevald et al. suggest acombination of several characterization methods, including density,conductivity, refractive index, and sonic speed measurements.

Böttinger et al., Online NMR Spectroscopic Study of Species Distributionin MDEA-H ₂ O-CO ₂ and MDEA-PIP-H ₂ O-CO ₂, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2008,47, pp. 7917-7926, describe an online NMR based method.

GB 2 477 542 B discloses an in-line solvent analysis system using massspectrometry.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,233 A discloses amine solutions with a more complexformulation including methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and piperazine.

EP 3 185 990 B1 discloses solutions comprising amines and activatorcomponents.

Katchko et al., In-Line Monitoring of the CO ₂ , MDEA, and PZConcentrations in the Liquid Phase during High Pressure CO ₂ Absorption,Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2016, 55, pp. 3804-3812, have studiedcharacterization methods of several solvent systems used for CO₂capture. Herein, they present results from chemometric modelling basedon measurements of density, pH, conductivity, sound velocity, refractiveindex, and near infrared (NIR) spectra. The authors claim that thedeveloped approach allowed for the prediction of the concentrations withaccuracies of 0.7% for MDEA, 0.4% for piperazine, and 2.5% for CO₂.

Several analytic methods, including NIR spectroscopy, are known for thecharacterization of aqueous amine solutions, such as those used inCO₂-capturing applications. However, the known methods alone are oflittle use for operators of gas treatment plants:

-   -   they are performed on expensive and complicated laboratory        equipment which has been developed for research applications;    -   they require staff trained to perform the experiment properly;    -   the acquired data must be analyzed by specialists using        multi-variate analysis;    -   the determined parameters, such as the concentration of one or        more amines, heat stable salts, or gases, are not per se        meaningful to an operator; rather they need to be interpreted by        specialists having knowledge for translating the parameters into        at least one recommended procedure in order to improve the        performance of the gas treatment system.

WO 2017/002079 A1 discloses a device and a method for real-timemeasurement of the quality of frying oil by sensing a chemical speciesrelated to the quality of the frying oil. The device comprises anoptical sensor comprising at least a light source and at least a lightdetector; a chamber for receiving the frying oil to be measured arrangedsuch that the light source is optically coupled through the frying oilin the chamber to the light detector; and a processing unit configuredto: receive from the light detector a signal of the frying oilabsorption, transmittance, reflection, scattering, or combinationsthereof, of light emitted by the light source; calculate, from thereceived signal, an output indicative of the quality of the frying oilusing a precalculated model relating chemical species and quality of thefrying oil.

WO 2018/090142 A1 discloses a method of spectrophotometric analysis.There is provided a measuring system including a low-resolutionspectrophotometric sensor, a device of mobile communication (such assmartphone or tablet) and software which may be installed partially onthat device and partially on a remote computing server or service. Themethod includes calibration of a measurement channel, oriented onmeasuring optical spectra or spectrum-related quantities; estimation ofthe optical spectrum of an arbitrary, analyzed sample, on the basis ofthe data from the sensor and the results of calibration; and evaluationof a spectrum-related quantity on the basis of the results ofestimation. These steps may include involvement of local and/or remotecomputing resources.

WO 2018/122857 A1 discloses a method for monitoring, analysis andmaintenance of water and equipment in swimming pools, said methodimplemented by one or more processors operatively coupled to anon-transitory computer readable storage device, on which are storedmodules of instruction code that when executed cause the one or moreprocessors to perform: accumulating and monitoring data from elementsincluding at least one of: sensors, actuators, and breakers in andaround the vicinity of the swimming pools; accumulating non-sensory datafrom a plurality of sources at a local processing unit; propagating saiddata to an online remote server; applying machine learning or rule basedalgorithms at the online remote server configured to incorporate all theacquired data and obtain an optimal policy for pool maintenance byproviding recommendations, control parameters; and providing an onlineinterface to access said recommendation/control parameters for at leastone of pool owners, pool servicemen, pool maintenance companies, poolvendors and pool retail dealers.

US 2019/353587 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for fieldspectroscopic characterization of seafood. A portable NIR spectrometeris connected to an analyzer configured for performing a multivariateanalysis of reflection spectra to determine qualitatively the trueidentities or quantitatively the freshness of seafood samples.

WO 2020/014073 A1 discloses evaluating a characteristic of edible oilusing a spectrometer. Optical reflectance data are obtained from edibleoil in situ in a frying apparatus housing the edible oil, thereflectance data corresponding to a specified range of infraredwavelengths. A model profile corresponding to the characteristic beingassessed is obtained from a repository housing a secured library of suchprofiles. The model profile defines a regression vector for use intransforming the reflectance data to generate a value corresponding tothe characteristic being assessed. A criterion is applied to the valueto establish a simplified representation of the characteristic forpresentation to a user for assessment of oil quality.

Problem Addressed by the Invention

Therefore, a problem addressed by the present invention is that ofspecifying a communication system, a monitoring system for in-situmonitoring of at least one substance used in a gas scrubbing process,and related methods, which at least substantially avoid thedisadvantages of known systems, devices, and methods of this type.

In particular, it would be desirable that the systems and relatedmethods provide an efficient monitoring of the at least one substanceused in the gas scrubbing process, wherein at least one apparatus usedin the gas scrubbing process can be placed at any location, even in aremote or hardly accessible area, at premises of a user, wherein aprocessing of measurement data acquired at or near the location of theat least one apparatus is distributed between a first instance which isfamiliar with an evaluation of measurement data, and a second instancewhich is familiar with providing treatment data to the user based on theevaluated measurement data, whereby the systems and related methods arecapable of concurrently applying distributed best practice and aspecific exchange of data under high data protection standards duringthe processing of the measurement data by employing a, preferably fully,automatic procedure.

In particular, it would be desirable to meet the following requirementsfor the characterization of the solvents as far as possible:

-   -   easy to use, even by inexperienced staff with a minimum        training;    -   field-rugged methods and devices;    -   yielding fast results;    -   providing recommended procedures to allow for trouble free plant        operation;    -   embedded into existing software;    -   enabling re-inspection by experts at a provider:        -   For improved plant simulation leading to better            recommendations;        -   For improved planned maintenance;        -   For better planning of production and/or an improved supply            chain management for amine solutions used in gas scrubbing;    -   compatible with in-line installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This problem is solved by the invention with the features of theindependent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention,which can be implemented individually or in combination, are presentedin the dependent claims and/or in the following specification anddetailed embodiments.

As used herein, the expressions “have”, “comprise” and “contain” as wellas grammatical variations thereof are used in a non-exclusive way. Thus,the expression “A has B” as well as the expression “A comprises B” or “Acontains B” may both refer to the fact that, besides B, A contains oneor more further components and/or constituents, and to the case inwhich, besides B, no other components, constituents or elements arepresent in A.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a communication system isdisclosed. In particular, the communication system is used in a for amonitoring system for in-situ monitoring of at least one substance usedin a gas scrubbing process. Accordingly, the communication systemcomprises a cloud server, a first server, at least one second server,and at least one third server; wherein the first server further has afirst communication interface configured to provide reference spectralinformation referring to at least one reference sample and referenceanalytical data to the cloud server;

wherein each second server has a second communication interfaceconfigured to provide spectral information to the cloud server;

wherein the cloud server is configured to

-   -   generate a calibration model by using the reference spectral        information and the reference analytical data provided by the        first server, wherein the calibration model comprises at least        one parameter;    -   apply the calibration model to the spectral information provided        by the second server, whereby at least one value for the at        least one parameter is extracted;    -   provide the at least one value for the at least one parameter to        the first server via the first communication interface;

wherein the first server is further configured to determine treatmentdata by using the at least one value for the at least one parameterprovided by the cloud server;

wherein the first server further has at least one third communicationinterface, wherein each third communication interface is configured toprovide the treatment data to the at least one third server.

As used herein, the term “communication” refers to a transmission of apiece of data from a first server to a second server, or vice versa, viaat least one communication interface. Herein, the term “data” relates topiece of information that is provided in a digital or digitized form,such as numerical or alphanumerical code. As generally used, the term“information” refers to any kind of data which comprises a content thatmay be useful for a user. By way of example, the information may be orcomprise “spectral information” which are related to at least one pieceof data related to an electromagnetic spectrum, herein also denoted as“spectrum”, such a single intensity at a particular wavelength,frequency, or photon energy, or a plurality of intensities distributedover a selected range of wavelengths, frequencies, or photon energies.Thus, the spectral information which comprises spectroscopic data can,preferably, be generated in accordance with a further aspect of thepresent invention by using an optical spectrometer as described below inmore detail. In addition, the spectral information may comprisemetadata, wherein the term “metadata” refers to at least one item ofinformation which accompanies the information related to theelectromagnetic spectrum as described above, in particular at least oneof a date, a time, a location or at least one circumstance, such astemperature or atmospheric conditions, temperature of the spectrometer,temperature of the at least one substance, spectrometer identificationdata, batch of the at least one substance, manufacturer of the at leastone substance, user, photographs, satellite data, being related to thespectral information or an acquisition thereof. Thus, the term“providing information” relates to a process by which a particular pieceof information is transmitted in form of a piece of data from the firstserver to the second server, or vice versa, via the at least onecommunication interface.

Further, the term “system” refers to a device comprising at least twocomponents, wherein at least two of the components are individualcomponents, while two or more of the components may be integrated intoone component, wherein the components are configured to perform a jointtask, such as handling a type of communication or a kind of monitoring.In particular, the term “communication system” refers, as generallyused, to a system which at least comprises a first server, a secondserver, and a communication interface configured to transmit a piece ofdata between the servers. As described below in more detail, thecommunication system according to the present invention comprises acloud server, a first server, at least one second server, at least onethird server, and various communication interfaces. As further generallyused, the term “communication interface” refers a transmission channeldesignated for the transmission of the data. Herein, the communicationinterface may be arranged as a unidirectional interface which isconfigured for forwarding at least one piece of data into a singledirection, either from the first server to the second server, or fromthe second server to the first server. Alternatively, the communicationinterface may be arranged as a bidirectional interface which isconfigured for forwarding at least one piece of data into one of twodirections, from the first server to the second server, or vice versa.Thus, a particular bidirectional interface can, as an alternative, bereplaced by two individual unidirectional interfaces which areconfigured for data transmission in opposite direction with respect toeach other. For the purpose of data transmission, the communicationinterface may comprise a wire-bound element or a wireless element. Byway of example, the wire-bound element may be selected from at least oneof a metal wire, such as a copper wire or a gold wire; a computer bussystem, such as a universal serial bus (USB); or an optical fiber,whereas the wireless element may comprise a wireless transmitter or aBluetooth element. However, further kinds of communication interfacesmay also be feasible. As further used herein, the terms “firstcommunication interface”, “second communication interface”, “thirdcommunication interface”, and “fourth communication interface” refer tofour individual communication interfaces being used for communicationbetween two individually assigned servers.

As further used herein, the term “server” relates to a device which isconfigured to provide resources to a further device, typically denotedas “client”, wherein the “resources”, especially, comprise at least oneof computing power, such as for running at least one computer program;or data storage capacity, such as for storing at least one piece ofdata. By way example, a client can run a single computer program orstore pieces of data distributed across multiple servers, while a singleserver can serve multiple clients with regard to at least one of programexecution and storage requirement. In contrast to the term “server”,which refers to such a device that is arranged within a local network,the term “cloud server” relates to a kind of server that is accessibleon demand by the client via internet. As a result, neither a location ofthe cloud server nor a direct active management of the cloud server isaccessible to the client. With regard to the present invention, theterms “first server”, “second server”, and “third server” refer to threeindividual servers each arranged within its local network, wherein thesecond server and the third server may, as described below in moredetail, be integrated into a single unit being arranged in a singlenetwork, while the term “cloud server” refers to the kind of server thatis accessible on demand by the client via internet.

As already indicated above, the term “spectral information” refers to apiece of information that is related to at least one piece of data inrelationship to an electromagnetic spectrum. As used herein, the“spectral information” relates to spectral information which refers to aparticular sample of unknown content and unknown physical properties,whereas the term “reference spectral information” relates to spectralinformation which refers to a reference sample, wherein the term“reference sample” denotes a sample of known content and known physicalproperties. As used herein, the term “reference analytical data” refersto at least one piece of data which is related to the known content andknown physical properties of the reference sample. According to thepresent invention, the reference spectral information and the referenceanalytical data are provided to the cloud server by the first server.Further according to the present invention, the spectral information isprovided directly or indirectly to the cloud server using the secondcommunication interface. As further used herein, the term “directly”refers to a configuration in which the second communication interfaceconnects the at least one second server with the cloud server in amanner that the spectral information is provided to the cloud serverwithout detour. In contrast hereto, the term “indirectly” refers to aconfiguration in which the second communication interface connects theat least one second server with a different server, in particular withthe first server, to which the spectral information is provided,firstly, wherein the different server, in particular the first server,has a fourth communication interface configured to, subsequently,provide the spectral information from the first server to the cloudserver. As described below in more detail, the spectral information can,thus, be subject to a modification which may be performed by thedifferent server, in particular the first server. However, differentmanners of indirectly providing the spectral information to the cloudserver are conceivable.

According to the present invention, the reference spectral informationand the reference analytical data is used for generating a calibrationmodel. As generally used, the term “calibration model” refers to a modelcomprising a correlation of the reference spectral information to thereference analytical data in order to be able to derive analytical datafrom the spectral information related to a particular sample of unknowncontent and unknown physical properties by using the model. Herein, aprocess of correlating the reference spectral information to thereference analytical data is described by the term “generating thecalibration model”, while the term “applying the calibration model”denotes a further process of deriving the analytical data from thespectral information related to the particular sample of unknown contentand unknown physical properties. According to the present invention,this process is performed by the cloud server, for which purpose thecloud server uses the reference spectral information and the referenceanalytical data as provided to the cloud server by the first server.

Further according to the present invention, the calibration model isimplemented by using at least one parameter, typically a set ofparameters, for a description of the analytical data. Based on the leastone parameter, the calibration model is configured to sufficientlyrepresent the correlation in a reasonable manner, in particular, byresulting in a deviation below a threshold of the correlation of thereference spectral information to the reference analytical data bysolely using the at least one parameter. As used herein, the term“parameter” refers to a representation of an influence to analyticaldata with respect to the particular substance. Particular examples forthe parameter are presented below.

Thus, the term “extracting at least one value for the at least oneparameter” as used herein refers to a process of determining at leastone value for the at least one parameter by using the calibration modelfor the adjustment of the spectral information as acquired in an actualmeasurement of a particular sample. As a result thereof, the analyticaldata of the particular sample are sufficiently described by the at leastone parameter. Consequently, the at least one parameter can be used as akind of synopsis for the content and the physical properties of theparticular sample. In general, the amount of data used for the at leastone parameter constitutes only a small fraction of the amount of datawhich are required to describe the related spectrum. According to thepresent invention, this process is also performed by the cloud server,for which purpose the cloud server uses the spectral information asprovided to the cloud server directly or indirectly by the at least onesecond server and the calibration model as available within the cloudserver.

Further according to the present invention, the treatment data aredetermined by using the at least one value for the at least oneparameter. As generally used, the term “value” refers to a logical or anumerical code, depending on a content of the at least one parameter. Asused herein, the term “treatment data” refers to at least one piece ofdata which is related to a proposed treatment of the at least onesubstance which is monitored, in particular by using the monitoringsystem as described below in more detail. Thus, the term “determiningtreatment data” as further used herein refers to a process of generatingthe at least one piece of data related to the proposed treatment of theat least one substance being monitored by using the at least one valuefor the at least one parameter. According to the present invention, thisprocess is performed by the first server, for which purpose the firstserver uses the at least one value for the at least one parameter asprovided to the first server by the cloud server via the firstcommunication interface.

Further according to the present invention, the treatment data areprovided to the at least one third server by using a specific thirdcommunication interface between the first server and each third server.Herein, the treatment data may be stored in a data storage device of thethird server or in a separate storage device to which it may be providedvia at least one interface, such as a wireless interface and/or awire-bound connection. As indicated above and below, a particular thirdserver may be provided as a single unit arranged in a single networktogether with a corresponding second server. As used herein, the term“providing treatment data” refers to a process of forwarding the atleast one piece of data related to the proposed treatment of the atleast one substance being monitored as generated by the first server inorder to enable a treatment of the at least one substance in accordancewith the treatment data as indicated below in connection with step (iv)of the method for the in-situ monitoring of the at least one substance.

For this purpose, the third server may comprise or drive a userinterface which is designated for providing at least one item ofinformation related to the treatment data to a user. As used herein, theterm “user interface” refers to a device which is designated forproviding a piece of information, in particular the treatment data,electronically, visually, acoustically or in any arbitrary combinationthereof to the user, preferably in a user-receptive manner, mostpreferred in a user-friendly manner. As generally used, the term“user-receptive manner” relates to a fashion of providing information toa human person such that the human person is capable of comprehendingthe received piece of information in the desired fashion. For thispurpose, the user interface may, preferably, comprise at least one of apersonal computer or a mobile communication device. As generally used,the term “personal computer” refers to a computer device which is,typically, placed at a fixed location, whereas the term “mobilecommunication device” relates to at least one of a smartphone, a tablet,or a personal digital assistant, which can be carried by the user and,thus, move together with the user. Consequently, it may, thus, bepossible to provide the treatment data to the user at a fixed locationto which the user can return again and again and/or to a location wherethe user currently is. In particular, the user interface may comprise amonitor which is designated for providing the at least one item ofinformation related to the treatment data in a visual fashion bydisplaying it to the user, in particular by at least one of plain textin at least one language or a graphic symbol representing thiscorresponding piece of information. However, using a traffic light stylerepresentation having three indicators in green, yellow, and red asproposed in WO 2020/014073 A1 is not considered as “treatment data”since it does not comprise an unambiguous indication of a recommendedprocedure. Alternatively or in addition, the user interface may bedesignated for providing the at least one item of information related tothe treatment data in an acoustic fashion, in particular by employing atleast one loudspeaker, wherein the at least one loudspeaker may belocated at least one of close to a location of the substance to bemonitored or at a location where the user may, typically, reside. Inthis manner, it can be ensured that the information may reach the usereven in an event in which he or she does not observe the monitor and maynot carry a mobile communication device.

Alternatively or in addition, the third server may be designated forproviding the treatment data to at least one of a treatment unit.Herein, the treatment data can be provided to at least one of atreatment unit in a direct manner, such as via wire-bound or a wirelessconnection, or in an indirect manner, such as via at least one furtherprocessing device. As generally used, the term “treatment unit” refersto at least one device designated for exerting an influence on the atleast one substance in a fashion that the desired treatment of the atleast one substance is performed in accordance with the treatment data.Preferred embodiments of the treatment unit are described below in moredetail. However, further kinds of treatment units may also beconceivable.

Alternatively or in addition, the third server may be designated forproviding the treatment data to at least one simulation system, whereinthe simulation system may be comprised by at least one of the thirdserver or a further processing device. As generally used, the term“simulation system” refers to at least one computer program which isconfigured to perform a modeling of an actual or an envisaged technicalsystem by using at least one piece of data, in particular the treatmentdata, in order to observe a behavior of the technical system withoutbeing required to actually implement the technical system. Withparticular respect to the present invention, the simulation system canbe used for at least one of predictive maintenance, optimization ofparameters related to the technical system, or optimization of themodeling, depending on a current state of the technical system asmodified by the treatment data. In addition, the treatment data can beaccompanied by other data related to further technical systems forperforming the modeling across multiple technical systems.

In particular accordance with the present invention, each server isconfigured to play a decisive role within the communication system. Forthis purpose, the system is configured to allow a processing of thespectral information acquired by an optical spectrometer of thesubstance to be monitored in a specifically adapted distributed fashionbetween the different servers. As a result thereof, the spectralinformation as used for the monitoring the at least one substance isprovided by the user, while the processing of the spectral informationis performed by a first instance which is familiar with an evaluation ofthe spectral information, and while the treatment data as desired by theuser for being able to adequately treat the at least one substance isgenerated by a second instance being familiar therewith. Consequently,the communication system is, thus, capable of providing both distributedbest practice with regard to the evaluation of the spectral informationand, at the same time, a specific exchange of data under high dataprotection standards during the processing of the spectral informationwithin in a, preferably fully, automatic procedure which is designatedfor generating the desired treatment data and to provide them to theuser.

In particular, the spectroscopic data is generated in real-time at thesite of the user and made available by the second server for furtheruse. As long as the hardware which is designated for generating thespectroscopic data is not altered, neither a software update nor analteration of infrastructure is required at the site of the user. Onlyspectroscopic data is generated and stored for transfer at the site ofthe user in a fashion which does not enable to generate any treatmentdata without the underlying calibration model. In contrast hereto, theactual treatment data is generated by the first server by using the atleast one value for the at least one parameter as generated by the cloudserver using the calibration model, whereby critical information, inparticular related to the calibration model and the generation of thetreatment data, can be safely managed and stored at two individual sitesseparated from each other. As illustrated below in the Figures, datafrom multiple users can be used to determine systematics. Herein, thecalibration and treatment data models can be updated and re-foundcontinuously without distorting the generation of the spectroscopic dataat the site of the multiple users.

Based on these considerations, the first server comprises the firstcommunication interface which is configured, firstly, to provide thereference spectral information referring to the at least one referencesample and the reference analytical data to the cloud server and,further, to receive the at least one value for the at least oneparameter from the cloud. Thus, the first communication interface may,preferably, be arranged as a bidirectional interface or may,alternatively, comprise two individual unidirectional interfacesarranged in opposite direction. Further, the first server is furtherconfigured to determine the treatment data by using the at least onevalue for the at least one parameter as provided by the cloud server,and, further comprises the at least one third communication interfaceconfigured to provide the treatment data to the at least one thirdserver.

In addition, the first server may be configured to receive the spectralinformation from the at least one second server via the secondcommunication interface and to provide it to the cloud server via thefourth communication interface. Hereby, the first server may beconfigured to modify the spectral information. As generally used, theterms “modifying” and “modification” refer to an alteration of data, inparticular of data carrying the spectral information, by applying atleast one algorithm to the data, wherein the algorithm may be configuredto exert at least one particular operation on the data. In accordancewith the present invention, the operation may, preferably, be selectedfrom at least one of: selecting, filtering, combining, classifying,grouping, or analyzing of data comprising the spectroscopic informationor related metadata. However, further kinds of operations may also befeasible.

Further based on these considerations, each second server comprises acorresponding second communication interface which is configured toprovide spectral information to the cloud server. As indicated above,the spectral information may be directly transmitted to the cloud servervia the corresponding second communication interface or, preferably,firstly to the first server via the second communication interface and,subsequently, from the first server via the fourth communicationinterface to the cloud server. While selecting a direct transmissionresults in an advantage providing a direct connection between the atleast one second server towards the cloud server, the indirecttransmission results in a different advantage of requiring an overallless complex communication system since the cloud server onlycommunicates with the first server while the first server is responsiblefor the communication with the other servers, i.e. the one or moresecond servers and the one or more third servers.

Further based on these considerations, the cloud server is configured toperform the above-indicated operations within the cloud server at leastof generating the calibration model by using the reference spectralinformation referring to the at least one reference sample and thereference analytical data as provided by the first server, of applyingthe calibration model which may comprise quantitative and qualitativemodelling to the spectral information provided by the second server,thereby extracting at least one value for the at least one parameter,and of providing the at least one value for the at least one parameterto the first server via the first communication interface. For a purposeof generating and maintaining the infrastructure within the cloudserver, wherein the infrastructure is required for performing theindicated operations within the cloud server, at least one additionalserver can be used.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the calibration model may begenerated by applying a combination of at least one data preprocessingmethod, a set of selected features, and at least one learning algorithm.As generally used, the term “data preprocessing method” refers to aprocess of modifying raw data, especially by using at least one of:scatter correction, baseline correction, smoothing, or scaling. Further,the set of selected features may refer to at least one particular dataitem, preferably selected from: at least one particular pixel or atleast one particular wavelength. As further generally used, the term“learning algorithm” relates to a process of extracting at least onepattern in at least one known set of data, wherein the at least onepattern can, thereafter, be applied to at least one unknown set of data.In addition, by using further unknown sets of data the at least onepattern can further be refined. Herein, the learning algorithm may,preferably, be selected from a machine-learning algorithm or a deeplearning algorithm.

In particular, the determining of the treatment data by using the atleast one value for the at least one parameter may, preferably, beperformed by applying the at least one learning algorithm to acombination of known values for known parameters with known treatmentdata. Herein, the learning algorithm may involve at least one algorithmselected from at least one of a regression algorithm or a classificationalgorithm. By way of, example at leastv one of the following algorithmsmay be used: partial least square regression; discriminant analysis; aBayesian algorithm such as Naïve Bayes, Brute-force MAP learning, BayesBelief Neworks, Bayes optimal classifier; Support Vector machines withmultiple kernels; a decision tree algorithm such as random forest, CART;logistic and linear regression such as LASSO, Ridge, elastic net; astatistical analysis such as univariate generalized and mixed models; aneural network (NN) algorithm such as Fully connected NN, convolutionalNN, recurrent NN; Gaussian modelling such as Gaussian processregression, Gaussian graphical networks; unsupervised learning methodssuch as non-negative matrix factorization, principal component analysis(PCA), t-sne, LLE. However, another kind of learning algorithms may alsobe feasible.

Further based on these considerations, each third server comprises acorresponding third communication interface which is configured toprovide the treatment data to the at least one third server. Asdescribed above and below in more detail, each third server may,further, be configured to further process the at least one item ofinformation related to the treatment data by at least one of displayingit to a user via a user interface, or by providing it to at least one ofa treatment unit or a simulation system as described elsewhere herein.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a monitoring system forin-situ monitoring of at least one substance used in a gas scrubbingprocess is disclosed. As further used herein, the term “monitoring”refers to a process of deriving desired information from, preferablycontinuously, acquired data without user interaction, wherein the term“measuring” relates to a process of acquiring a piece of data withoutuser interaction. For this purpose, a plurality of measurement signalsare generated and evaluated, wherefrom the desired information isdetermined. Herein, the plurality of the measurement signals may berecorded and/or evaluated within fixed or variable time intervals or,alternatively or in addition, at an occurrence of at least oneprespecified event. As generally used, the term “in-situ monitoring”relates to acquiring the piece of data related to the at least onesubstance which is used in the gas scrubbing process at the locationwhere the at least one substance is already located, in particularwithout being required to collect a sample of the at least one substanceand to analyze it a different location. Consequently, the monitoringsystem exhibits an advantage that it can be allocated at the location ofthe at least one substance in order to determine at least one propertythereof.

As already indicated above, the term “system” refers to a devicecomprising at least two components, wherein at least two of thecomponents are individual components, while two or more of thecomponents may be integrated into one component, wherein the componentsare configured to perform a joint task, such as handling a type ofmonitoring. Thus, the term “monitoring system” as used herein refers toa system which comprises at least two individual components, whereineach component is designated for at least one of generating andevaluating measurement signals. In particular, the monitoring systemaccording to the present invention may, especially, be designated for,preferably continuously, determining at least one parameter related tothe at least one substance and to derive the desired treatment datatherefrom.

Accordingly, the monitoring system for in-situ monitoring of at leastone substance used in a gas scrubbing process comprises:

-   -   the communication system as described elsewhere herein;    -   an optical spectrometer designated for        -   acquiring spectral information related to the at least one            substance;        -   providing the spectral information to at least one server.

Consequently, the monitoring system according to the present inventioncomprises the communication system as described elsewhere herein and anoptical spectrometer. As a result, it is, therefore, designated togenerate optical signals which are used for determining the at least oneparameter related to the at least one substance and to derive thedesired treatment data therefrom. As generally used, the term “optical”refers to electromagnetic waves having a wavelength of 380 nm to 780 nmand adjoining wavelength ranges, in particular at least a portion of thenear infrared (NIR) spectral range. In general, the NIR spectral rangeis considered to cover wavelengths of 780 nm to 2500 nm. However, theterm “optical” is considered herein to cover further wavelengths outsidethe NIR spectral range, such as other infrared spectral ranges withwavelengths above 2.5 μm, in particular for wavelengths up to 2.6 μm, upto 3.1 μm, up to 3.5 μm, up to 5 μm, up to 5.5 μm, up to 6 μm, up to 20μm, or up to 40 μm. Preferably, the wavelengths from 250 nm to 5 μm,preferably from 400 nm to 3 μm, more preferred from 1250 nm to 2.7 μm,are covered by the term “optical” according to the definition as usedherein. Thus, the term “light” as used herein relates to radiationhaving a least one wavelength within the indicated wavelength ranges.

As further generally used, the term “spectrum” refers to a partition ofthe optical spectral range, especially of the near-infrared (NIR)spectral range as indicated above. Herein, each part of the spectrum isconstituted by an optical signal, which is defined by a signalwavelength and the corresponding signal intensity. As further generallyused, the term “optical spectrometer” relates to an apparatus which iscapable of acquiring spectral information, wherein the term “acquiringspectral information” refers to recording the signal intensity withrespect to the corresponding wavelength of a spectrum or a partitionthereof, such as a wavelength interval, wherein the signal intensitymay, preferably, be provided as an electrical signal which may be usedfor further evaluation. In particular for performing the monitoringprocess according to the present invention, the at least one opticalspectrum of the at least one substance can repeatedly be acquiredin-situ.

The optical spectrometer may, preferably, comprise a dispersive element.As generally used, the “dispersive element” refers to a device which isdesignated for separating incident light from the at least one substanceinto a spectrum of constituent wavelength signals whose respectiveintensities are, subsequently, determined in form of detector signals asgenerated by a single detector or a detector array as described below inmore detail. Here, the dispersive element can, preferably, be selectedfrom at least one diffractive element or at least one interferometricelement. Herein, the at least one diffractive element may be selectedfrom a prism or an optical grating, wherein the at least oneinterferometric element may be selected from an interference filter, inparticular a bandpass filter, a band rejection filter, a Bragg filter, alength variable filter, such as a linearly variable filter, aFabry-Perot interferometer or a Michelson interferometer. As generallyused, the term “bandpass filter” refers to an optical element which isdesigned to transmit a band of wavelengths between two cut-offwavelengths while attenuating outside the band. As an alternative, a“band rejection filter” is designed to attenuate in the band whiletransmitting outside the band. As further generally used, the term“Bragg filter” relates to a particular type of band rejection filterwhich is comprised by a short segment of a core of an optical waveguideor a glass substrate. Herein, a periodic variation in the refractiveindex is used as a wavelength-specific dielectric mirror designed toattenuate the wavelengths in the band while allowing the wavelengthsoutside the band to pass undisturbed, thus, acting as a band rejectionfilter. As further generally used, the term “length variable filter”refers to an optical filter comprising a plurality of interferencefilters, in particular bandpass filters, which may, particularly, beprovided in a continuous arrangement of the filters. Herein, each of thefilters may form a bandpass with a variable center wavelength for eachspatial position on the filter, preferably continuously, along a singledimension denoted by the term “length” on a receiving surface of thelength variable filter. Preferably, the variable center wavelength maybe a linear function of the spatial position on the filter, in whichcase the length variable filter is referred to as a “linearly variablefilter”. However, other kinds of functions may be applicable to therelationship between the variable center wavelength and the spatialposition on the filter. In a particular embodiment, the length variablefilter may be a wedge filter, which is designated for carrying at leastone response coating on a transparent substrate, wherein the responsecoating may exhibit a spatially variable property, in particular, aspatially variable thickness. Further, the “Fabry-Perot interferometer”comprises an optical cavity having two parallel reflecting surfaceswhich allow only optical waves to pass through the optical cavity whenthey are in resonance with the optical cavity. In addition, a furtheroptical element which is designed for receiving incident light andtransferring it to the dispersive element can be used. For furtherdetails, reference may be made to WO 2019/115594 A1, WO 2019/115595 A1,or WO 2019/115596 A1.

As an alternative, the optical spectrometer may comprise at least oneFourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrophotometer.Herein, the optical spectrometer may comprise at least one broadbandlight source and at least one interferometric element, such as aMichelson interferometer. The FTIR spectrophotometer may be configuredfor providing illumination with at least one light beam having atime-dependent spectrum. For this purpose, the FTIR spectrophotometermay, preferably, comprise at least one moving mirror element, wherein bymovement of the mirror element a light beam generated by the broadbandlight source can alternatingly be blocked and transmitted by theinterferometric element. The optical spectrometer may, furthermore,comprise at least one microelectromechanical system (MEMS) which may beconfigured for controlling the mirror element. Further, the FTIRspectrophotometer may be configured to modulate the light beam dependingon the wavelength such that different wavelengths are modulated atdifferent rates.

The light may impinge on a single detector or on the detector array. Asgenerally used, the term “detector array” relates to a device comprisinga plurality of optical sensors designated for measuring an intensity ofthe incident light impinging at least one of the optical sensors.Herein, each sensor may, preferably be designated for measuring theintensity of the incident light at a particular wavelength. Therefore,the detector array may, preferably, comprise a sequence of opticalsensors that may be located in form of a series of optical sensors onefollowing the other, wherein the sequence of the optical sensors may,preferably, be placed in a parallel manner with respect to thecontinuous arrangement of the respective optical filters along thelength of the length variable filter. Thus, the detector array may,preferably, comprise a series of individual optical sensors which may,in particular, be arranged in a single line as a one-dimensional matrix,preferably along the length of the length variable filter, or in morethan one line, especially as two, three, or four parallel lines, in formof a two-dimensional matrix, in particular, in order to receive as muchof the intensity of the incident light as possible. Thus, a number N ofpixels in one direction may be higher compared to a number M of pixelsin a further direction such that the one-dimensional 1×N matrix or arectangular two-dimensional M×N matrix may be obtained, wherein M<10 andN≥10, preferably N≥20, more preferred N≥50. In addition, the matrixesused herein may also be placed in a staggered arrangement. Herein, eachoptical sensor may have the same or, within a tolerance level, a similaroptical sensitivity, especially for ease of manufacturing the series ofthe optical sensors. Alternatively, each of the optical sensors as usedin the series of the optical sensors may exhibit a varying opticalsensitivity that may vary in accordance with the varying transmittanceproperties of the length variable filter, such as by providing anincreasing variation or a decreasing variation of the opticalsensitivity with wavelength along the series of the optical sensors.However, other kinds of arrangements may also be feasible.

In particular, a detector array may be used which may comprise aplurality of pixelated sensors, wherein each of the pixelated sensors isadapted to receive at least a portion of one of the constituentwavelength signals as provided by the dispersive element. As indicatedabove, each constituent wavelength signal is, hereby, related to anintensity or an amplitude of each constituent wavelength. As generallyused, the terms “pixelated optical sensor” or “pixelated sensor” referto an optical sensor which comprises an array of individual pixelsensors, wherein each of the individual pixel sensors has at least aradiation sensitive area which is adapted for generating an electricalsignal depending on the intensity of the incident light, wherein theelectrical signal may, in particular, be provided to an evaluation unitfor further evaluation. Herein, the radiation sensitive area ascomprised by each of the individual pixel sensors may, especially, be asingle, uniform radiation sensitive area which is configured forreceiving the incident light which impinges on the individual pixelsensor. However, other arrangements of the pixelated sensors may also beconceivable. Further, as indicated above, a single detector having asingle radiation sensitive area may also be feasible.

The sensor is designed to generate detector signals, preferablyelectronic signals, associated with the intensity of the incident lightwhich impinges on the individual pixelated sensor. The detector signalmay be an analogue and/or a digital signal. The electronic signals foradjacent optical sensors can, accordingly, be generated simultaneously,or else in a temporally successive manner. By way of example, during arow scan or line scan, it can be possible to generate a sequence ofelectronic signals which correspond to the series of the individualoptical sensors which are arranged in a line. In addition, theindividual sensors may, preferably, be active sensors which may beadapted to amplify the electronic signals prior to providing it to theevaluation unit. For this purpose, the optical sensor may comprise oneor more signal processing devices, such as one or more filters and/oranalogue-digital-converters for processing and/or preprocessing theelectronic signals.

The optical sensor may be selected from any known optical sensor, inparticular a pixelated sensor, preferably from a pixelated organiccamera element, especially a pixelated organic camera chip, or from apixelated inorganic camera element, especially a pixelated inorganiccamera chip, in particular from a CCD chip or a CMOS chip, which are,commonly, used in various cameras. Herein silicon (Si) can, typically,be used for wavelengths up to 1.1 μm. As an alternative, especially forwavelengths above 1.1 μm, the radiation sensitive area of the opticalsensor may comprise a photodetector, in particular an inorganicphotodetector selected from at least one of gallium antimonide (GaSb),in particular for wavelengths up to 1.7 μm; germanium (Ge), inparticular for wavelengths up to 1.85 μm; indium gallium arsenide(InGaAs), in particular for wavelengths up to 2.5 μm; indium arsenide(InAs), in particular for wavelengths up to 3.5 μm; lead sulfide (PbS),in particular for wavelengths up to 3.5 μm; indium antimonide (InSb), inparticular for wavelengths up to 5.5 μm; lead selenide (PbSe), inparticular for wavelengths up to 6 μm; and mercury cadmium telluride(MCT, HgCdTe), in particular for wavelengths up 20 μm. However, otherphotodetectors or further kinds of materials may also be feasible, inparticular a pyroelectric detector comprising a radiation sensitivematerial, preferably, selected from triglycine sulfate (TGS) ordeuterated triglycine sulfate (DTGS) can, in particular, be used forwavelengths up to 40 μm. Herein, it may particularly be preferred whenthe spectral sensitivities of the detector may exhibit a spectral rangewhich may be closely related to an emission spectrum of the lightsource, particularly to ensure that the detector may be capable ofproviding a detector signal having a high intensity, thus, enabling anevaluation of the detector signals with sufficient signal-to-noise-ratioand, at the same time, a high-resolution.

In a preferred embodiment, the monitoring system may comprise an opticalprobe designated for measuring the optical signals related to the atleast one substance. In this embodiment, the optical spectrometer may bedesignated for acquiring the spectral information related to the atleast one substance by using the measured optical signals as provided bythe probe. As generally used, the term “optical probe” refers to adevice which is designated for measuring optical signals by acquiring atleast one measurement signal, also denoted here as “optical signal”,preferably at the location or close to the location of the at least onesubstance to be monitored. Herein, the optical probe may be comprised bya flow cell which may be located in a solvent loop of an acid gasremoval plant and/or installed in a laboratory designated for processinga sample comprising the solution. However, further embodiments of theoptical probe may also be feasible.

In addition, the optical probe may be designated for providing radiationfor illuminating the location of the at least one substance. However, incase the location of the at least one substance may already have beensufficiently illuminated, such a function of the optical probe may bedispensable. However, since the preferred wavelength range to be used inconnection with the present invention is, as presented above, a spectralrange which is considered to cover wavelengths that are not necessarilyavailable at the location of the at least one substance in sufficientintensity, it is preferred that the optical probe may be designated forproviding the desired radiation for illuminating the location of the atleast one substance.

Thus, the optical probe may, preferably, be used for both providing theradiation and generating at least one optical signal resulting from aninteraction of the radiation with a portion of the at least onesubstance at the location of the at least one substance. For thispurpose, the optical probe may comprise a setup which may, specifically,be adapted to a geometry of the at least one substance and/or a geometryof a receptacle which comprises at least a portion of the at least onesubstance. In particular, the setup may, be selected from at least oneof a transmittance geometry, a transflexion geometry, or a reflectiongeometry, such as a diffuse reflection geometry or an attenuated totalreflection geometry. As illustrated below in more detail, thetransmittance geometry may, especially, be preferred in case the atleast one substance to be monitored may comprise a transparent material,in which case it may be advantageous to transmit a thickness of a layerof the at least one substance. Herein, the setup for the transmittancegeometry can, preferably, be designated for guiding light through thethickness of a layer of the at least one substance to be monitored, inparticular of 0.1 mm, preferably of 0.2 mm, more preferred of 0.5 mm, to5 mm, preferably of to 2.5 mm, more preferred to 2 mm, especially of 1mm. However, in case the at least one substance to be monitored maycomprise an intransparent material, a reflection geometry may be morepreferred. With regard to the terms “transparent” or “intransparent”, isindicated that a respective grade of transparency refers to theparticular wavelength or wavelength range applied to the at least onesubstance, in particular to the grade of transparency within the NIRspectral range.

Further, for providing a connection between the optical probe and theoptical spectrometer for guiding the optical signals as generated by theoptical probe to the optical spectrometer for evaluation and, preferablyalso for a further connection between a light source designated forgenerating the illumination having the desired spectral range, inparticular within the NIR spectral range, and the optical probe at leastone optical waveguide, such as at least one optical fiber, may be used.However, further kinds of connections may also be feasible.

In a particular embodiment, the optical probe may comprise at least onetube, preferably two individual tubes, wherein the at least one tube,which comprises the at least one optical waveguide, is designated forreceiving the at least one connection. Further, the optical probe cancomprise a mount to which the at least one tube may be attached. Forthis purpose, fastening elements, such as screws, may be used. Herein,the mount may, preferably, be a rigid mount, thus, being capable ofproviding a desired stability to the optical probe, while the at leastone tube may, preferably, be a flexible tube, thus, providing a certainlevel of flexibility.

In addition, the monitoring system, in particular the optical probe, maycomprise at least one additional sensor which may be designated formeasuring additional substance-related information of the at least onesubstance, wherein the term “additional substance-related information”refers to at least one item of data which is further related to the atleast one substance in addition to the at least one piece of informationabout the at least one substance that is acquired by using the opticalspectrometer. In particular, the further substance-related informationmay, preferably, be selected from at least one of: a temperature, adensity, a flux, a conductivity, a viscosity, electromagnetic fields, adielectric constant, a refractive index, a fluorescence, aphosphorescence, a magnetization value, a pH Value, a bufferingcapacity, an acid value, or a zeta-potential. However, further kinds ofadditional substance-related information may also be feasible. For apurpose of determining at least one additional substance-relatedinformation, the additional sensor may, preferably, be attached to themount of the probe, wherein leads for a power supply or a data read-outcould, preferably, be guided via the at least one tube. In addition,further elements which can be attached to the optical probe areconceivable. As a further alternative, the probe may be or comprise atleast one lab-on-chip system or at least one microfluidic system beingdesignated for analyzing the at least one substance used in the gasscrubbing process.

Further, the optical spectrometer comprises an evaluation unit which isdesignated for generating the spectral information that is related to aspectrum of the at least one substance by evaluating the detectorsignals as provided by the detector. As generally used, the term“evaluation unit” refers to an arbitrary device which is designed forgenerating information based on detector signals. For this purpose, theevaluation unit may be or comprise at least one integrated circuit, suchas one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and/orone or more digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or one or more fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or one or more data processingdevices, such as one or more computers, preferably one or moremicrocomputers and/or microcontrollers. Additional components may becomprised, such as one or more preprocessing devices and/or dataacquisition devices, such as one or more devices for receiving and/orpreprocessing of the sensor signals, such as one or more AD-convertersand/or one or more filters. Further, the evaluation unit may comprise atleast one data storage device. Further, as outlined above, theevaluation unit may comprise at least one interface, such as a wirelessinterface and/or a wire-bound interface. In addition, the opticalspectrometer, in particular the evaluation unit, can further bedesignated for determining data related to the at least one substance asdescribed elsewhere herein. For this purpose, the evaluation unit maycomprise or have access to further evaluation routines which areconfigured to determine the data related to the at least one substancefrom at least one of the spectral information, the optical signals asprovided by the detector array, or the sensor signals as provided by theat least one additional sensor. In addition, the optical spectrometer,in particular the evaluation unit, can further be designated fordetermining additional substance-related information of the at least onesubstance as described elsewhere herein. For this purpose, theevaluation unit may comprise or have access to even further evaluationroutines which are configured to determine the additionalsubstance-related information from measured signals as provided by theat least one of the additional sensor.

Herein, the spectral information which can be used for monitoring thesubstance as generated by the optical spectrometer, in particular by theevaluation device as comprised by the optical spectrometer can,preferably, be provided by a data transfer unit to the at least oneserver, in particular to the at least one second server comprised by thecommunication system as described elsewhere herein. As used herein, theterm “data transfer unit” refers to an arbitrary device designated fortransmitting the spectral information from an optical spectrometer to atleast one second server as comprised by the communication system in awire-bound transmission or a wireless transmission. For this purpose,the data transfer unit can, preferably, be selected from at least one ofa universal serial bus (USB) or a Bluetooth enabled device. However,further methods and devices which are configured to enable a datatransfer between the optical spectrometer, in particular the evaluationdevice of the optical spectrometer, and the corresponding second server,may also be conceivable.

Further, the optical spectrometer may comprise further components, suchas a light source. As used herein, the term “light source” refers to akind illumination source which is known to provide sufficient emissionin at least one of the wavelength ranges as indicated above. Thus, theillumination source may, be selected from at least one of anincandescent lamp, a thin film filament, or MEMS system that emits ablack-body spectrum, a flame source; a flame source; a heat source; alaser, in particular a laser diode, although further types of lasers canalso be used; a light emitting diode; an organic light source, inparticular an organic light emitting diode; a neon light; a structuredlight source. However, other kinds of illumination sources can be used,such as a thermal infrared emitter. As used herein, the term “thermalinfrared emitter” refers to a micro-machined thermally emitting devicewhich comprises a radiation emitting surface that is designated foremitting the desired radiation. By way of example, thermal infraredemitters are available under the name “emirs50” from Axetris AG,Schwarzenbergstrasse 10, CH-6056 Kägiswil, Switzerland, as “thermalinfrared emitters” from LASER COMPONENTS GmbH, Werner-von-Siemens-Str.15 82140 Olching, Germany, or as “infra-red emitters” from HawkeyeTechnologies, 181 Research Drive #8, Milford Conn. 06460, United States.However, further types of thermal infrared emitters may also befeasible.

Herein, the light source may be a continuous light source or, as analternative, a pulsed light source, wherein the pulsed light source mayhave a modulation frequency of at least 1 Hz, of at least 5 Hz, of atleast 10 Hz, of at least 50 Hz, of at least 100 Hz, of at least 500 Hz,of at least 1 kHz, or more. In a particular embodiment, at least one ofthe optical spectrometer or the light source can comprise a modulationdevice designated for modulating the illumination, preferably a periodicmodulation. As generally used, the term “modulation” refers a process inwhich a total power of the illumination is varied, preferablyperiodically, in particular with at least one modulation frequency. Inparticular, a periodic modulation can be effected between a maximumvalue and a minimum value of the total power of the illumination. Theminimum value can be 0, but can also be >0, such that, by way ofexample, complete modulation does not have to be effected. Herein, themodulation can, preferably, be effected within the light sourcedesignated for generating the desired modulated illumination,preferably, by the light source itself having a modulated intensityand/or total power, for example a periodically modulated total power,and/or by the light source being embodied as a pulsed illuminationsource, for example as a pulsed laser. As a further example, a devicefor generating radiation as disclosed in European patent application 1921 32 77.7, filed Dec. 3, 2019, can also be used for this purpose,wherein the device comprises at least one radiation emitting element,wherein the radiation emitting element is designated for generatingradiation upon being heated by an electrical current; a mount, whereinthe mount carries the at least one radiation emitting element, andwherein the mount or a portion thereof is movable; and a heat sink,wherein the heat sink is designated for cooling the mount and the atleast one radiation emitting element being carried by the mount uponbeing touched by the mount. Alternatively or additionally, a differenttype of modulation devices, for example modulation devices based on anelectro-optical effect and/or an acousto-optical effect, can also beused. However, a modulation of the light beam at any position within abeam path may also be conceivable, wherein a beam chopper or a differenttype of periodic beam interrupting device, such as an interrupter bladeor interrupter wheel, preferably rotating at constant speed and can,thus, periodically interrupt the illumination, can also be used.Accordingly, the detector array can be designated for detecting at leasttwo detector signals in the case of different modulations may havedifferent modulation frequencies. Herein, the evaluation unit can bedesignated for generating the spectral information from the at least twodetector signals.

As already indicated above, the term monitoring system can comprise atleast two components which may be integrated into a single component. Asan advantage thereof, the handling of the integrated components,especially by a user, may be facilitated. Accordingly, the light sourceand the optical spectrometer can, preferably, be integrated into asingle unit. Alternatively, the optical probe and the opticalspectrometer can, preferably, be integrated into a single unit. As afurther alternative, the light source, the optical probe and the opticalspectrometer can, preferably, be integrated into a single unit. Further,the second server and the third server can be integrated into a singleunit. Alternatively or in addition, the optical spectrometer, the datatransfer unit, and the second server, can integrated into a single unit.By way of example, the optical spectrometer, the light source, the datatransfer unit, the second server, and the third server can be integratedinto a single unit. However further kinds of integrated components mayalso be feasible.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a computer-implementedmethod for operating a communication system is disclosed. Thus, themethods according to the present invention are computer-implementedmethods. As generally used, the term “computer-implemented method”refers to a method which involves a programmable apparatus, inparticular, a readable medium carrying a program, a computer, or acomputer network, whereby one or more of the features of the inventionare performed by means of at least one program. In accordance with thepresent invention, the at least one program may be accessible by anapparatus being adapted to perform the respective method via acommunication system, in particular the communication system asdescribed elsewhere herein, which can, preferably, be available viainternet. With particular regard to the present invention, the presentmethod can, thus, being performed on a programmable apparatus which isconfigured to this purpose, such as by providing at least one adaptedcomputer program. As a result, the methods according to the presentinvention may, in particular, affect the in-situ monitoring of the atleast one substance, for which purpose the computer-implemented methodfor operating the communication system as described herein is employed.As further used herein, the terms “operating” and “operation” refer to asequence of method steps which are configured to effect a functioning ofthe communication system in a desired fashion.

The method for operating the communication system as disclosed hereincomprises the following steps, which may, preferably, be performed inthe given order. Further, additional method steps can be provided whichare not listed here. Unless explicitly indicated otherwise, any or allof the method steps, in particular of adjacent method steps, may, atleast partially, be performed in a simultaneous manner. Further, any orall of the method steps might be performed at least twice, such as in arepeated fashion, in particular in order to allow repeatedly performingthe in-situ monitoring process according to the present invention asdescribed below in more detail.

Thus, the method for operating the communication system according to thepresent invention, wherein the communication system comprises a cloudserver, a first server, at least one second server, and at least onethird server, comprises the following steps:

-   -   a) providing reference spectral information referring to at        least one reference sample and reference analytical data from        the first server via a first communication interface to the        cloud server;    -   b) generating a calibration model in the cloud server by using        the reference spectral information referring to the at least one        reference sample and the reference analytical data, wherein the        calibration model comprises at least one parameter;    -   c) providing spectral information related to at least one        substance from the second server via a second communication        interface to the cloud server;    -   d) applying the calibration model in the cloud server to the        spectral information related to the at least one substance,        whereby at least one value for the at least one parameter is        extracted;    -   e) providing the at least one value for the at least one        parameter to the first server via the first communication        interface, wherein the treatment data comprise at least one        piece of data which is related to a proposed treatment of the at        least one substance;    -   f) determining treatment data by using the at least one value        for the at least one parameter provided by the cloud server to        the first server;    -   g) providing the treatment data from the first server via a        third communication interface to the third server.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a computer-implementedmethod for in-situ monitoring of the at least one substance used in agas scrubbing process is disclosed. With regard to the term“computer-implemented method”, reference can be made to the definitionprovided above. The method as disclosed herein comprises the followingsteps, which may, preferably, be performed in the given order. Further,additional method steps can be provided which are not listed here.Unless explicitly indicated otherwise, any or all of the method steps,in particular of adjacent method steps, may, at least partially, beperformed in a simultaneous manner. Further, any or all of the methodsteps might be performed at least twice, such as in a repeated fashion,in particular in order to allow performing the in-situ monitoringprocess in a manner to repeatedly acquire at least one optical spectrumof the at least one substance, to repeatedly derive treatment datatherefrom via an evaluation unit, and to repeatedly provide thetreatment data to a user for enabling the treatment of the at least onesubstance in accordance therewith.

Accordingly, the computer-implemented method for the in-situ monitoringof the at least one substance used in a gas scrubbing process comprisesthe following steps:

-   -   (i) acquiring at least one optical reference spectrum of at        least one reference sample, wherein each reference sample        comprises the at least one substance to be monitored, wherein        reference analytical data are assigned to each reference sample,        and deriving reference spectral information referring to the at        least one reference sample from the at least one optical        reference spectrum;    -   (ii) acquiring at least one optical spectrum of the at least one        substance in-situ, and deriving spectral information related to        the at least one substance in-situ from the at least one optical        spectrum;    -   (iii) performing the steps of the method according to the        computer-implemented method for operating the communication        system as described elsewhere herein;    -   (iv) treating the at least one substance in accordance with the        treatment data.

In a further aspect, the present invention refers to a computer programproduct. As generally used, the “computer program product” refers toexecutable instructions for performing at least one of the methods,preferably both methods as indicated above, according to the presentinvention. For this purpose, a computer program may compriseinstructions provided by means of a computer program code which areconfigured to perform any or all of the steps of the methods accordingto the present invention and, thus, to establish a generation of animage of an object when implemented on a computer or a data processingdevice. The computer program code may be provided on a data storagemedium or a separate device such as an optical storage medium, e.g. on acompact disc, directly on a computer or data processing device, or via anetwork, such as an in-house network or the internet, such as in thecloud.

For further details concerning the computer-implemented methods as wellas a related computer program product, reference may be made to thesystems according to the present invention as disclosed elsewhereherein.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a use of the communicationsystem, the monitoring system for in-situ monitoring of at least onesubstance used in a gas scrubbing process, wherein the monitoring systemcomprises the communication system, and the related methods according tothe present invention is disclosed. Herein, the communication system,the monitoring system for the in-situ monitoring of the at least onesubstance used in a gas scrubbing process and the related methods may,preferably, be used for a purpose of use selected from the groupconsisting of:

-   -   use in carbon capture in flue gas or other oxygen containing        gases from sources such as fossil fuel power generation plants        or steam turbines;    -   use for acid gas removal targeted for biogas applications, in        particular in gas streams containing alkanes, CO₂ and/or H₂S        and/or oxygen and/or olefins;    -   use in natural gas applications, in particular from bulk removal        of CO₂ and/or H₂S to deep removal of acid gases for LNG        applications;    -   use for acid-gas removal in the production of Syngas, Ammonia,        Hydrogen/Carbon Monoxide (HYCO) and iron ore;    -   use for selective acid gas removal, i.e. of sulfur components        from natural gas as well as acid-gas enrichment (AGE) or        tail-gas treatment (TGT) units.    -   Use in carbon capturing from flue gases/off-gases from cement        production

However, further kinds of uses of this method in a gas scrubbing processmay also be conceivable.

With particular regard to monitoring a gas scrubbing, the at least oneparameter can, preferably, be selected from at least one at least one ofan indicator, in particular a content or a concentration, related to:

-   -   water;    -   an amine, in particular        -   a tertiary amine, specifically selected from at least one            of: methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), a hindered alkanolamine            such as tert-butylaminoethoxyethanol, aminoethoxyethanol            (AEE), or (2-(2-(2-tert-butylaminoethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)methyl            ether (MEETB);        -   a primary or a secondary amine, specifically selected from            at least one of: piperazine, monoethanolamine (MEA),            diethanolamine (DEA);    -   a heat stable salt, specifically selected from at least one of:        a formate, a phosphate, an acetate a glycosate, an oxalate, a        succinate;    -   a gas, specifically selected from at least one of: carbon        dioxide (CO₂), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).

As further used herein, the term “substance” refers to at least onecompound used in a gas scrubbing process for which the spectralinformation is generated, in particular by using the monitoring deviceaccording to the present invention, and provided via the secondcommunication interface of a second server. Consequently, the at leastone substance may, preferably, be or comprise at least one solution, inparticular an amine solution, a solution comprising a heat stable salt,a gaseous solution; or a mixture thereof, specifically from at least onesubstance as indicated above. However, further kinds of substances usedin a gas scrubbing process may also be feasible. Herein, a particularsubstance may comprise at least one component, wherein a composition ofthe substance can remain constant or change during the monitoring of theparticular substance.

As already defined above, the term “parameter” refers to arepresentation of an influence to analytical data with respect to theparticular substance. Alternatively or in addition, at least twoparameters may be combined for generating a further parameter. Thus, theat least one parameter assigned to the calibration model, similarly,depends on the particular use of the monitoring system comprising thecommunication system and the related methods according to the presentinvention. Specifically, the at least one parameter can be selected fromat least one of:

-   -   a regression value, in particular selected from a concentration        of at least one of the substance, of at least one component of        the substance, of at least one degeneration product of the        substance, of at least one byproduct generated by a degeneration        of the substance; a stability of a component; a grade of        manufacture, an age of a substance;    -   a classification value, in particular for identifying at least        one substance;    -   a clustering value, in particular for forming of clusters        related to the at least one substance;    -   an extracted feature, in particular selected from at least one        feature related to the spectral information.

As a result thereof, the treatment data which are determined by usingthe at least one value for the at least one parameter also depends onthe particular use of the monitoring system comprising the communicationsystem and the related methods. Thus, the treatment data can, inparticular, comprise at least one of:

-   -   a statement about an identification of the at least one        substance;    -   a statement about an authenticity of the at least one substance        or a product comprising the at least one substance;    -   a statement about an origin of the at least one substance;    -   a statement about a presence or an absence of a state of the at        least one substance;    -   a statement about a property of the at least one substance, in        particular selected from a quality, a concentration, a type of        the at least one substance;    -   a statement about a property of a component of the at least one        substance, in particular selected from a concentration of the        component of the at least one substance;    -   a statement about the stability of a mixture of the at least one        substance with at least one another substance;    -   a statement about a recommended procedure based on a value of        the at least one parameter.

Herein, the recommended procedure may be selected from at least one of:

-   -   replacing at least a portion of the at least one substance at a        determined point or range of time;    -   adding a further amount to the at least one substance;    -   adding a further substance to the at least one substance, such        as for treating with a medicament;    -   postponing the adding of a further substance to the at least one        substance;    -   removing the at least one substance;    -   altering at least one of a temperature or a pressure acting on        the at least one substance;    -   cleaning of the at least one substance or of an object in        connection with the substance.

Particularly, the treatment unit may, preferably, be selected from atleast one of:

-   -   a storage container designated for stocking a further amount of        at least one substance or of a different substance and for        providing a portion thereof;    -   a processing unit designated for homogenizing the at least one        substance and/or for mixing at least two different substances;    -   a cleaning unit designated for cleaning the at least one        substance;    -   a waste container designated for receiving used substance;    -   a valve control unit designated for controlling at least one        valve, wherein controlling the valve may allow adjusting a        supply or a removal of the at least one substance;    -   an illumination control unit designated for being capable of        alternating an illumination of the at least one substance;    -   a temperature control unit designated for altering a temperature        of the at least one substance;    -   a pressure control unit designated for altering a pressure on        the at least one substance;    -   a heating unit designated for impinging the at least one        substance with heat, wherein heating the at least one substance        may induce a physical or chemical reaction of the at least one        substance;    -   a cooling unit designated for cooling the at least one        substance, wherein the cooling of the at least one substance may        result in impeding or finishing a physical or chemical reaction        of the at least one substance.

However, further kinds of treatment units may also be conceivable.

Thus, the communication system, the monitoring system for in-situmonitoring of at least one substance used in a gas scrubbing processcomprising the communication system, and the related methods are capableof providing an efficient monitoring to the at least one substance,hereby allowing the at least one apparatus used in the gas scrubbingprocess to be placed at any location, even in a remote or hardlyinaccessible area, at premises of a user. Further, a processing ofmeasurement data which are acquired at or near the location of the atleast one apparatus is distributed between a first instance representedby the infrastructure for performing the indicated operations within thecloud server, which may be generated and maintained by at least oneadditional server, wherein the first instance is familiar with theevaluation of the measurement data, and a second instance represented bythe first server, wherein the second instance is familiar with providingthe treatment data, which are, eventually, based on the evaluatedmeasurement data, to the user. Hereby, the systems and the relatedmethods are capable of concurrently applying both distributed bestpractice and a specific exchange of data under high data protectionstandards to the user during processing the measurement data in a,preferably fully, automatic procedure.

Summarizing, in the context of the present invention, the followingembodiments are regarded as particularly preferred:

Embodiment 1: A communication system, the communication systemcomprising a cloud server, a first server, at least one second server,and at least one third server;

wherein the first server further has a first communication interfaceconfigured to provide reference spectral information and referenceanalytical data to the cloud server;

wherein each second server has a second communication interfaceconfigured to provide spectral information to the cloud server;

wherein the cloud server is configured to

-   -   generate a calibration model by using the reference spectral        information and the reference analytical data provided by the        first server, wherein the calibration model comprises at least        one parameter;    -   apply the calibration model to the spectral information provided        by the second server, whereby at least one value for the at        least one parameter is extracted;    -   provide the at least one value for the at least one parameter to        the first server via the first communication interface;

wherein the first server is further configured to determine treatmentdata by using the at least one value for the at least one parameterprovided by the cloud server;

wherein the first server further has at least one third communicationinterface, wherein each third communication interface is configured toprovide the treatment data to the at least one third server.

Embodiment 2: The communication system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the second communication interface is configured toprovide the spectral information directly or indirectly to the cloudserver.

Embodiment 3: The communication system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the spectral information is provided indirectly tothe cloud server by providing the spectral information to the firstserver, wherein the first server further has a fourth communicationinterface configured to provide the spectral information to the cloudserver.

Embodiment 4: The communication system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments, wherein the parameter is selected from at leastone of: a regression value, a classification value, a clustering value,a sensory parameter, an extracted feature.

Embodiment 5: The communication system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments, wherein the third server comprises or drives auser interface designated for displaying at least one item ofinformation related to the treatment data to a user.

Embodiment 6: The communication system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the user interface comprises a personal computer ormobile communication device.

Embodiment 7: The communication system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the mobile communication device is at least one of asmartphone, a tablet, or a personal digital assistant.

Embodiment 8: The communication system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments, wherein the treatment data comprise at least onepiece of data which is related to a proposed treatment of the at leastone substance.

Embodiment 9: The communication system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments, wherein the treatment data comprises at least oneof:

-   -   a statement about an identification of the at least one        substance;    -   a statement about an authenticity of the at least one substance        or a product comprising the at least one substance;    -   a statement about an origin of the at least one substance;    -   a statement about a presence or an absence of a state of the at        least one substance;    -   a statement about a property of the at least one substance;    -   a statement about a property of a component of the at least one        substance;    -   a statement about the stability of a mixture of the at least one        substance with at least one another substance;    -   a statement about a recommended procedure based on a value of        the at least one parameter.

Embodiment 10: The communication system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the recommended procedure is selected from at leastone of:

-   -   replacing at least a portion of the at least one substance at a        determined point or range of time;    -   adding a further amount to the at least one substance;    -   adding a further substance to the at least one substance;    -   postponing the adding of a further substance to the at least one        substance;    -   removing the at least one substance;    -   altering at least one of a temperature or a pressure acting on        the at least one substance;    -   cleaning of the at least one substance or of an object in        connection with the substance.

Embodiment 11: The communication system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments, wherein the third server is designated forproviding the treatment data to at least one of a treatment unit or asimulation system.

Embodiment 12: The communication system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the treatment unit is selected from at least one of:a storage container, a processing unit, a cleaning unit, a wastecontainer, a valve control unit, a sorting unit, an illumination controlunit, a temperature control unit, a pressure control unit, a heatingunit, a cooling unit.

Embodiment 13: The communication system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments, wherein the reference spectral information refersto at least one reference sample.

Embodiment 14: The communication system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments, wherein the second server and the third serverare integrated into a single unit.

Embodiment 15: A monitoring system for in-situ monitoring of at leastone substance used in a gas scrubbing process, the monitoring systemcomprising:

-   -   a communication system according to any one of the preceding        Embodiments;    -   an optical spectrometer designated for        -   acquiring spectral information related to the at least one            substance;        -   providing the spectral information to at least one server.

Embodiment 16: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the optical spectrometer is designated for providingthe spectral information to at least one second server comprised by thecommunication system.

Embodiment 17: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, furthercomprising at least one of:

-   -   at least one light source designated for illuminating at least a        portion of the at least one substance;    -   an optical probe designated for measuring optical signals        related to the at least one substance;    -   a first connection between the optical probe and the optical        spectrometer designated for guiding the measured optical signals        to the optical spectrometer;    -   a second connection between the light source and the optical        probe designated for guiding light to the at least one        substance;    -   a data transfer unit designated for connection between the        optical spectrometer and the second server.

Embodiment 18: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the data transfer unit is designated for providing awire-bound or a wireless transmission.

Embodiment 19: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the data transfer unit is least one of a universalserial bus (USB) or a Bluetooth enabled device.

Embodiment 20: The monitoring system according to any one of the threepreceding Embodiments, wherein

-   -   the light source and the optical spectrometer, or    -   the optical probe and the optical spectrometer, or    -   the light source, the optical probe, and the optical        spectrometer

are integrated into a single unit.

Embodiment 21: The monitoring system according to any one of the fourpreceding Embodiments, wherein the second server, the opticalspectrometer and the data transfer unit are integrated into a singleunit.

Embodiment 22: The monitoring system according to any one of the fivepreceding Embodiments, wherein at least one of the first connection andthe second connection comprises an optical waveguide.

Embodiment 23: The monitoring system according to any one of the sixpreceding Embodiments, wherein the light source is selected from atleast one of an incandescent lamp or a thermal infrared emitter.

Embodiment 24: The monitoring system according to any one of the sevenpreceding Embodiments, wherein the optical probe comprises at least oneof a first tube and a second tube, wherein the first tube is designatedfor receiving the first connection and the second tube is designated forreceiving the second connection.

Embodiment 25: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein at least one of the first tube and the second tubeis a flexible tube.

Embodiment 26: The monitoring system according to any one of the twopreceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one tube is attached to atleast one mount.

Embodiment 27: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the at least one mount is a rigid mount.

Embodiment 28: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, wherein theoptical probe comprises a setup for at least one of a transmittancegeometry, a transflexion geometry, a reflection geometry, in particulara diffuse reflection geometry or an attenuated total reflectiongeometry.

Embodiment 29: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the setup for the transmittance geometry isdesignated for guiding light through a thickness of a layer of thesubstance of 0.1 mm, preferably of 0.2 mm, more preferred of 0.5 mm, to5 mm, preferably of to 2.5 mm, more preferred to 2 mm, especially of 1mm.

Embodiment 30: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, wherein theoptical spectrometer further comprises a dispersive element and at leastone detector, in particular a single detector or a detector array.

Embodiment 31: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the dispersive element is designated for receivingthe light from the at least one substance and separating it into aspectrum of constituent wavelength signals.

Embodiment 32: The monitoring system according to the two precedingEmbodiments, wherein the single detector comprises a single radiationsensitive area, or wherein the detector array comprises a plurality ofpixelated sensors, wherein each pixelated sensor is adapted to receiveat least a portion of one of the constituent wavelength signals, whereineach constituent wavelength signal is related to an intensity of eachconstituent wavelength, and to generate at least one detector signal.

Embodiment 33: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein each pixelated sensor comprises a sensor region,wherein each sensor region comprises a radiation sensitive material.

Embodiment 34: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the radiation sensitive material is selected fromsilicon (Si), gallium antimonide (GaSb), germanium (Ge), indium galliumarsenide (InGaAs), indium arsenide (InAs), lead sulfide (PbS), indiumantimonide (InSb), lead selenide (PbSe), mercury cadmium telluride (MCT,HgCdTe), triglycine sulfate (TGS), and deuterated triglycine sulfate(DTGS).

Embodiment 35: The monitoring system according to any one of the twopreceding Embodiments related to the device, wherein the sensor regionis a uniform sensor region.

Embodiment 36: The monitoring system according to any one of the threepreceding Embodiments, wherein the pixelated sensor is designated formeasuring incident light by generating a sensor signal through measuringan electrical resistance or a conductivity of at least a part of thesensor region.

Embodiment 37: The device according to the preceding Embodiment, whereinthe radiation sensitive element is designated for generating the sensorsignal by performing at least one current-voltage measurement and/or atleast one voltage-current-measurement.

Embodiment 38: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, wherein atleast a portion of a surface of the optical probe is an anti-adhesivesurface designated for impeding an adhesion of the at least onesubstance.

Embodiment 39: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, wherein theoptical probe comprises a sensor designated for determining a physicalimpact on the at least one substance.

Embodiment 40: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, wherein thephysical impact on the at least one substance is selected from atemperature of the at least one substance or a pressure on the at leastone substance.

Embodiment 41: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, wherein theoptical probe comprises an additional sensor designated for measuringadditional substance-related information related to the at least onesubstance.

Embodiment 42: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the additional substance-related information isselected from at least one of a temperature, a density, a flux, aconductivity, a viscosity, electromagnetic fields, a dielectricconstant, a refractive index, a fluorescence, a phosphorescence, amagnetization value, a pH value, a buffering capacity, an acid value, ora zeta-potential related to the at least one substance.

Embodiment 43: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, wherein thesubstance is selected from at least one of at least one solution, inparticular an amine solution, a solution comprising a heat stable salt,a gaseous solution, or a mixture thereof.

Embodiment 44: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiments, wherein the amine solution comprises at least one of aprimary amine, a secondary amine, a tertiary amine.

Embodiment 45: The monitoring system according to the precedingEmbodiment, wherein the primary amine or the secondary amine is selectedfrom at least one of piperazine, monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine(DEA).

Embodiment 46: The monitoring system according to any one of the twopreceding Embodiments, wherein the tertiary amine is selected from atleast one of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), a hindered alkanolamine suchas tert-butylaminoethxoyethanol, aminoethoxyethanol (AEE) or or(2-(2-(2-tert-butylaminothoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)methyl ether (MEETB).

Embodiment 47: The monitoring system according to any one of the fourpreceding Embodiments, wherein the heat stable salt is selected from atleast one of a formate, a phosphate, an acetate.

Embodiment 48: The monitoring system according to any one of the fivepreceding Embodiments, wherein the gaseous solution comprises a gasselected from at least one of carbon dioxide (CO₂), hydrogen sulfide(H₂S).

Embodiment 49: The monitoring system according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system, wherein theparameter is selected from at least one of: a regression value, aclassification value, a clustering value, a sensory parameter, anextracted feature.

Embodiment 50: A computer-implemented method for operating acommunication system, the communication system comprising a cloudserver, a first server, at least one second server, and at least onethird server, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

-   -   a) providing reference spectral information and reference        analytical data from the first server via a first communication        interface to the cloud server;    -   b) generating a calibration model in the cloud server by using        the reference spectral information and the reference analytical        data, wherein the calibration model comprises at least one        parameter;    -   c) providing spectral information from the second server via a        second communication interface to the cloud server;    -   d) applying the calibration model in the cloud server to the        spectral information, whereby at least one value for the at        least one parameter is extracted;    -   e) providing the at least one value for the at least one        parameter to the first server via the first communication        interface;    -   f) determining treatment data by using the at least one value        for the at least one parameter provided by the cloud server to        the first server;    -   g) providing the treatment data from the first server via a        third communication interface to the third server.

Embodiment 51: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, whereinthe spectral information is provided directly or indirectly to the cloudserver.

Embodiment 52: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, whereinthe spectral information is provided indirectly to the cloud server byproviding the spectral information to the first server and providing thespectral information from the first server to the cloud server via afourth communication interface further comprised by the first server.

Embodiment 53: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, whereinthe spectral information is provided indirectly to the cloud server by,firstly, providing the spectral information to the first server and,subsequently, providing the spectral information from the first serverto the cloud server via a fourth communication interface furthercomprised by the first server.

Embodiment 54: The method according to any one of the two precedingEmbodiments, wherein the calibration model is generated by applying alearning algorithm, preferably selected from a machine-learningalgorithm or a deep learning algorithm.

Embodiment 55: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein the determining of thetreatment data by using the at least one value for the at least oneparameter is performed by applying the learning algorithm to acombination of known values for known parameters with known treatmentdata.

Embodiment 56: A computer-implemented method for in-situ monitoring ofat least one substance used in a gas scrubbing process, wherein themethod comprises the following steps:

-   -   (i) acquiring at least one optical reference spectrum of at        least one reference sample, wherein each reference sample        comprises the at least one substance to be monitored, wherein        reference analytical data are assigned to each reference sample,        and deriving reference spectral information from the at least        one optical reference spectrum;    -   (ii) acquiring at least one optical spectrum of the at least one        substance in-situ, and deriving spectral information from the at        least one optical spectrum;    -   (iii) performing the steps of the method according to any one of        the preceding Embodiments referring to the computer-implemented        method for operating a communication system;    -   (iv) treating the at least one substance in accordance with the        treatment data.

Embodiment 57: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein the at least one opticalreference spectrum is acquired by measuring the at least one opticalreference sample with a same type of the system for the in-situmonitoring of the at least one substance at at least one of the sametemperatures or by adjusting the at least one optical reference spectrumfor at least one of known temperature effects or known deviations of theoptical spectrometer.

Embodiment 58: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein at least one of the opticalreference spectrum and the optical spectrum of the at least onesubstance covers a wavelength from of 250 nm to 6 μm.

Embodiment 59: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein the at least one opticalspectrum of the at least one substance is repeatedly acquired in-situwhile a process involving the at least one substance is in operation.

Embodiment 60: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein the treatment data compriseat least one piece of data which is related to a proposed treatment ofthe at least one substance.

Embodiment 61: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein the treatment data comprisesat least one of:

-   -   a statement about an identification of the at least one        substance;    -   a statement about an authenticity of the at least one substance        or a product comprising the at least one substance;    -   a statement about an origin of the at least one substance;    -   a statement about a presence or an absence of a state of the at        least one substance;    -   a statement about a property of the at least one substance;    -   a statement about a property of a component of the at least one        substance;    -   a statement about the stability of a mixture of the at least one        substance with at least one another substance;    -   a statement about a recommended procedure based on a value of        the at least one parameter.

Embodiment 62: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, whereinthe recommended procedure is selected from at least one of:

-   -   replacing at least a portion of the at least one substance at a        determined point or range of time;    -   adding a further amount to the at least one substance;    -   adding a further substance to the at least one substance;    -   postponing the adding of a further substance to the at least one        substance;    -   removing the at least one substance;    -   altering at least one of a temperature or a pressure acting on        the at least one substance;    -   cleaning of the at least one substance or of an object in        connection with the substance.

Embodiment 63: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein at least one item ofinformation related to the treatment data is being displayed to a uservia a user interface.

Embodiment 64: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein the treatment data is beingprovided to at least one of a treatment unit or a simulation system.

Embodiment 65: The method according to the preceding Embodiment, whereinthe treatment unit is selected from at least one of: a storagecontainer, a processing unit, a cleaning unit, a waste container, avalve control unit, a sorting unit, an illumination control unit, atemperature control unit, a pressure control unit, a heating unit, acooling unit.

Embodiment 66: The method according to any one of the precedingEmbodiments referring to a method, wherein the reference spectralinformation refers to at least one reference sample.

Embodiment 67: A computer program product comprising executableinstructions for performing the method steps according to any one of thepreceding Embodiments referring to a method.

Embodiment 68: A use of the monitoring system according to any one ofthe preceding Embodiments referring to the monitoring system for anin-situ monitoring of the at least one substance used in a gas scrubbingprocess for a purpose of use selected from the group consisting of:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further optional details and features of the invention are evident fromthe description of preferred exemplary embodiments which follows inconjunction with the dependent claims. In this context, the particularfeatures may be implemented alone or with features in combination. Theinvention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The exemplaryembodiments are shown schematically in the figures. Identical referencenumerals in the individual figures refer to identical elements orelements with identical function, or elements which correspond to oneanother with regard to their functions.

Specifically, in the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of a monitoringsystem for in-situ monitoring of at least one substance used in a gasscrubbing process, wherein the monitoring system comprises acommunication system and an optical spectrometer, according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a further preferred exemplary embodiment of themonitoring system for the in-situ monitoring of the at least onesubstance used in a gas scrubbing process, wherein the monitoring systemcomprises the communication system and the optical spectrometer,according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of an optical probedesignated for measuring optical signals related to the at least onesubstance as optionally comprised by the optical spectrometer;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram indicating a preferred exemplary embodimentof a computer-implemented method for the in-situ monitoring of the atleast one substance used in a gas scrubbing process, wherein the methodcomprises a method for operating the communication system;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a temperature-induced shift inabsorbance spectra having a wavenumber of 7000 cm⁻¹ to 8000 cm⁻¹; and

FIGS. 6 to 8 each illustrates a diagram presenting reference spectralinformation and reference analytical data for a particular substance tobe used in a corresponding calibration model.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a highly schematic fashion, an exemplaryembodiment of a monitoring system 110 for in-situ monitoring of at leastone substance 112 used in a gas scrubbing process according to thepresent invention. In particular, the system 110 can be an aminesolution management system that may be capable of providing recommendedprocedures to an operator of an acid gas removal plant in order toenable a particular smooth operation of the plant. However, a furthersystem which may be used in a further kind gas scrubbing process mayalso be feasible.

As illustrated there, the substance can be an amount of a solution 114,such as liquid or a gaseous solution, which can be stored in areceptacle 116, whereby a level 118 of the solution 114 within thereceptacle 116 can be obtained. Without limiting the scope of thepresent invention, the substance 112, in particular the solution 114, asused for the purposes of the present invention can be or comprise atleast one of:

-   -   water;    -   a solution, in particular an aqueous solution, comprising at        least one amine, in particular        -   a tertiary amine, specifically selected from at least one            of: methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), a hindered alkanolamine            such as tert-butylaminoethoxyethanol, aminoethoxyethanol            (AEE), or (2-(2-(2-tert-butylaminoethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)methyl            ether (MEETB);        -   a primary or a secondary amine, specifically selected from            at least one of: piperazine, monoethanolamine (MEA),            diethanolamine (DEA);    -   a solution, in particular an aqueous solution, comprising at        least one heat stable salt, wherein the heat stable salt may,        specifically, be selected from at least one of: a formate, a        phosphate, an acetate, a glycosate, an oxalate, a succinate;    -   a solution, in particular a gaseous solution, comprising at        least one a gas, wherein the gas may, specifically, be selected        from at least one of: carbon dioxide (CO₂), hydrogen sulfide        (H₂S).

However, other kinds of solutions can also be used in relationship withthe present invention, in particular, selected from at least one ofOASE® solution:

-   -   OASE® blue for use in carbon capture in flue gas or other oxygen        containing gases from sources such as fossil fuel power        generation plants or steam turbines;    -   OASE® green for acid gas removal primarily targeted for biogas        applications, in particular in gas streams containing oxygen        and/or olefins;    -   OASE® purple in natural gas applications, in particular from        bulk removal of CO₂ to deep removal of acid gases for LNG        applications;    -   OASE® white for acid-gas removal in the production of Syngas,        Ammonia, Hydrogen/Carbon Monoxide (HYCO) and iron ore;    -   OASE® yellow for selective acid gas removal, i.e. of sulfur        components from natural gas as well as acid-gas enrichment (AGE)        or tail-gas treatment (TGT) units.

According to the present invention, the monitoring system 110 mayfurther comprise an optical probe 120, which is designated for measuringoptical signals that related to the substance 112. As schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 1 , the optical probe 120 can be immersed in thesolution 114, preferably fully below the level 118 of the solution 114,within the receptacle 116. In a particular embodiment, the optical probe120 can be installed in a solvent loop of an acid gas removal plant,whereby it may be attached to an interior wall 122 of the receptacle116, preferably close to the bottom 124 of the receptacle 116, thus,avoiding a disturbance of an operation of the solution 114 as far aspossible. For further details concerning the optical probe 120,reference may be made to the description above, to FIG. 3 and to thepassages referring thereto. Herein, the optical probe 120 may becomprised by a flow cell, wherein the flow cell may, preferably, belocated in the solvent loop of the acid gas removal plant and/orinstalled in a laboratory designated for processing a sample comprisingthe solution 114. However, further embodiments may also be feasible.

The optical signals which may be measured by the optical probe 120, may,preferably, be guided via a connection 126, which may be a wire-boundconnection, such as an optical waveguide 128, or a wireless connection,to the optical spectrometer 130 as further comprised by the monitoringsystem 110 of the present invention. Alternatively or in addition, theoptical spectrometer 130 may be designated for directly acquiringoptical signals, specifically by using a setup, preferably, designed forreflection geometry, in particular for diffuse reflection geometry orattenuated reflection geometry (not depicted here).

Accordingly, the optical spectrometer 130 is designated for acquiringspectral information which is related to the substance 112, for whichpurpose the optical signals as measured by the optical probe 120 ordirectly acquired by the optical spectrometer 130 may be used. For thispurpose, the optical spectrometer 130 may, as further depicted in FIG. 1, comprise at least one light source 132, which is designated forilluminating at least a portion of the substance 112. In particular, thelight source 132 may emit electromagnetic radiation which covers atleast a portion of the near infrared (NIR) spectral range. In general,the NIR spectral range is considered to cover wavelengths of 780 nm to2500 nm. However, the light source 132 may also be capable of emittingfurther wavelengths outside the NIR spectral range, such as the visiblespectral range which covers wavelengths of 380 nm to 780 nm, or in otherinfrared spectral ranges with wavelengths above 2.5 μm, in particularfor wavelengths up to 2.6 μm, up to 3.1 μm, up to 3.5 μm, up to 5 μm, upto 5.5 μm, up to 6 μm, up to 20 μm, or up to 40 μm.

For a purpose of the generating the desired radiation, the light source132 may, preferably, comprise an incandescent lamp having a metal of alow electrical conductivity, specifically selected from at least one oftungsten or NiCr, or a graphite, provided in form of a filament or afilm. Herein, the filament or the film can be impinged by an electricalcurrent in a fashion that a heating thereof filament results in anemission of photons over a considerably wide spectral range which, inparticular, includes the NIR spectral range. As an alternative, otherkinds of thermal radiation sources, specifically a thermal infraredemitter as described above in more detail, may also be used. However, adifferent light source 132 may also be feasible.

As already indicated above, the light source 132 may be a continuouslight source or, as an alternative a pulsed light source, wherein thepulsed light source may have a modulation frequency of at least 1 Hz, ofat least 5 Hz, of at least 10 Hz, of at least 50 Hz, of at least 100 Hz,of at least 500 Hz, of at least 1 kHz, or more. As a result, themodulation frequency neatly fits with a range of detectivity of infraredsensors which are particularly sensitive at 500 Hz or above, especiallydue to a strong impact of 1/f noise. For this purpose, comprehensive andexpensive radiation generators which are based on semiconductors, suchas light-emitting diodes, or lasers, specifically quantum cascadelasers, can be used. A cheap alternative can be provided by a mechanicalchopper wheel or by using pulsable infrared sources comprising a lowthermal-mass filament of Tungsten or NiCr. By way of example, such kindof pulsable infrared sources is available from Helioworks' EP-Series orEF-Series (refer to www.helioworks.com), or as FLIR from ICx Photonics(refer towww.amstechnologies.com/fileadmin/amsmedia/downloads/2533_IR_Broadband_Sources.pdf).As a further alternative, a device for generating radiation as disclosedin European patent application 19 21 32 77.7, filed Dec. 3, 2019, asdescribed above in more detail, can also be used.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1 , the light emitted by the light source132 can be guided towards the optical probe 120 by using the sameconnection 126, preferably comprising the same optical waveguide 128, ora different connection (not depicted here) which can be arranged betweenthe light source 132 and the optical probe 120. As depicted below inFIG. 3 in more detail, the connection 126 can be provided in a branchedform, wherein a first branch can be used for providing the light asgenerated by the light source 132 to the optical probe 120 while asecond branch can be used for guiding the light received from theoptical probe 120, which has, in general, been modified by the substance112 under monitoring, to the optical spectrometer 130.

For this purpose, the optical spectrometer 130 may further comprise adispersive element 134, which is designated for receiving the light fromthe substance 112 and separating it into a spectrum of constituentwavelength signals, and a detector array 136 which may comprise aplurality of pixelated sensors, wherein each pixelated sensor is adaptedto receive at least a portion of one of the constituent wavelengthsignals, wherein each constituent wavelength signal is related to anintensity of each constituent wavelength, and to generate at least onedetector signal. As an alternative, a single detector having a singleradiation sensitive area may also be feasible.

Herein, the dispersive element 134 is used in the optical spectrometer130 for separating the light received from the substance 112 into aspectrum of constituent wavelength signals such that only a singlewavelength or a narrow wavelength range may impinge on at least one,preferably exactly one, pixelated sensor as comprised by the detectorarray 136, wherein respective intensities or amplitudes are determined.As described above in more detail, the dispersive element 134 may bediffractive element or an interferometric element, wherein thediffractive element may be a prism or an optical grating, while theinterferometric element may be an interference filter, in particular abandpass filter, a band rejection filter, a Bragg filter, a lengthvariable filter, such as a linearly variable filter, a Fabry-Perotinterferometer or a Michelson interferometer. As an alternative, theoptical spectrometer 130 may comprise at least one Fourier-transforminfrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrophotometer, wherein, the opticalspectrometer 130 may comprise at least one broadband light source and atleast one interferometric element, such as a Michelson interferometer.The FTIR spectrophotometer may be configured for illuminating the objectwith at least one light beam having a time-dependent spectrum.Preferably, the FTIR spectrophotometer may comprise at least one movingmirror element, wherein by movement of the mirror element a light beamgenerated by the broadband light source 132 can alternatingly be blockedand transmitted by the interferometric element. The optical spectrometermay, furthermore, comprise at least one microelectromechanical system(MEMS) being configured for controlling the mirror element. Further, theFTIR spectrophotometer may be configured for modulating the light beamdepending on the wavelength such that different wavelengths aremodulated at different rates.

Further, each pixelated sensor as comprised by the detector array 136may comprise a uniform sensor region designated for receiving the lightfrom the substance 112 and split into a spectrum of constituentwavelength signals by the diffractive element 134 as described above inmore detail in a manner that a generation of at least one detectorsignal may be triggered. Preferentially, the generation of the at leastone detector signal may be governed by a defined relationship betweenthe detector signal and the manner of the illumination of the sensorregion. Herein, the sensor region may have a size of 10 mm×1 mm or less,preferred of 2 mm×0.2 mm or less, more preferred of 1 mm×0.1 mm or less,most preferred of 0.5 mm×0.05 mm or less. For a purpose of generatingthe at least one detector signal upon illumination, the sensor regionmay comprise a radiation sensitive material which can, preferably beselected from silicon (Si), in particular for wavelengths up to 1.1 μm.For wavelengths above 1.1 μm, the radiation sensitive material may beselected from at least one of gallium antimonide (GaSb), in particularfor wavelengths up to 1.7 μm; germanium (Ge), in particular forwavelengths up to 1.85 μm; indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), inparticular for wavelengths up to 2.5 μm; indium arsenide (InAs), inparticular for wavelengths up to 3.5 μm; lead sulfide (PbS), inparticular for wavelengths up to 3.5 μm; indium antimonide (InSb), inparticular for wavelengths up to 5.5 μm; lead selenide (PbSe), inparticular for wavelengths up to 6 μm; mercury cadmium telluride (MCT,HgCdTe), in particular for wavelengths up 20 μm, triglycine sulfate(TGS), for wavelengths up to 40 μm, and of deuterated triglycine sulfate(DTGS), for wavelengths up to 40 μm. However, other materials may alsobe feasible for being used in the detector array 136.

As further depicted in FIG. 1 , the optical spectrometer 130 comprisesan internal evaluation unit 138, which is designated for determining thedesired spectral information by evaluating the detector signals providedby the detector array 136. However, the evaluation unit 138 could alsobe provided as a further unit separated from the optical spectrometer130. As defined above, the term “evaluation unit” refers to a devicewhich is configured to determine the desired spectral informationrelated to the substance 112 of which a spectrum has been recorded,wherein the spectral information can be obtained by evaluating thedetector signals as provided by the detector array 136.

In addition, the optical spectrometer 130 may comprise further elementsnot depicted here. In particular, at least one transfer element (notdepicted here) may be used, wherein the transfer element is designed forreceiving the light from substance 112, e.g. by using the optical probe120 via the connection 126, preferably from the optical waveguide 128,and transferring it to the dispersive element 134, thereby, preferably,concentrating the light onto the dispersive element 134. Examples ofpreferred transfer elements can be found in WO 2019/115594 A1, WO2019/115595 A1, or WO 2019/115596 A1.

According to the present invention, the monitoring system 110 furthercomprises a communication system 140 as, which is, schematically,indicated in FIG. 1 by a content comprised by the long dashed lines 142.As illustrated there, the communication system 140 comprises a cloudserver 144, a first server 146, a second server 148, and a third server150.

As further depicted there, the communication system 140 may, further,comprise one or more further second servers 148′ and one or more furtherthird server 150′, wherein a number of the second servers 148, 148′,generally, equals the number of the third servers 150, 150′. Asindicated by the short dashed lines, a common server 152, 152′, whichmay perform the tasks of both a second server 148, 148′ and acorresponding third server 150, 150′, can be provided as a single unit.

As already indicated above, each server 144, 146, 148, 150 is, inparticular accordance with the present invention, configured to play adecisive role, thus, allowing a processing of the spectral informationacquired by the optical spectrometer 130 to be distributed between thedifferent servers 144, 146, 148, 150 in a particular fashion asdescribed herein. As a result thereof, whereas the spectral informationused for the monitoring of the substance 112 is provided by the user,the processing of the spectral information is performed by a firstinstance being familiar with an evaluation of the spectral information,and the treatment data as desired by the user is generated by a secondinstance being familiar therewith. Consequently, the communicationsystem 140 is, thus, capable of providing both distributed best practicewith regard to the evaluation of the spectral information and, at thesame time, a specific exchange of data under high data protectionstandards during the processing of the spectral information within a,preferably fully, automatic procedure designated for generating thedesired treatment data and to providing them to the user.

The spectral information which can be used for monitoring the substance112 can, preferably, be provided by a data transfer unit 154 to thesecond server 148. Herein, the data transfer unit 154 may be designatedfor transmitting the spectral information from the optical spectrometer130 to the second server 148 in a wire-bound or a wireless transmission.For this purpose, the data transfer unit 154 can, preferably, beselected from at least one of a universal serial bus (USB) or aBluetooth enabled device. As further shown in FIG. 1 , the opticalspectrometer 130, the data transfer unit 154 and the second server 148,can, as schematically indicated by a dotdashed line, also be integratedinto a single unit. However, other embodiments may also be feasible.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 , the first server 146 furtherhas a first communication interface 156, which is configured to providereference spectral information which refers to at least one referencesample and reference analytical data to the cloud server 144. Asdescribed above and below in more detail, the reference spectralinformation and the reference analytical data are used by the cloudserver 144 in order to generate a calibration model, wherein thecalibration model is arranged in a fashion that it comprises at leastone parameter. Further, each second server 148, 148′ has at least onesecond communication interface 158, 158′, wherein each secondcommunication interface 158, 158′ may be configured, as schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 1 , to directly provide spectral information to thecloud server 144. An alternative configuration for a communication pathwith respect to the second communication interface 158, 158′ isdisplayed in FIG. 2 . As described above and below in more detail, thecalibration model which is maintained at the cloud server 144 is appliedto the spectral information, whereby at least one value for the at leastone parameter is extracted. Further, the at least one value for the atleast one parameter is provided to the first server 146 by using thefirst communication interface 156. As described above and below in moredetail, the first server 146 is further configured to determinetreatment data by using the at least one value for the at least oneparameter as provided by the cloud server 144 via the firstcommunication interface 156. Further, the first server 146 further hasat least one third communication interface 160, 160′ wherein each thirdcommunication interface 160, 160′ is configured to provide the treatmentdata to the at least one third server 150, 150′. Herein, any one of thecommunication interfaces 156, 158, 158′, 160, 160′ may, preferably, beprovided in a wireless fashion; however, a wire-bound communication mayalso be feasible.

For the purposes of the present invention, the first sever 146 maycomprise a first data storage device 162, wherein the first data storagedevice 162 may be configured to store the reference spectral informationwhich refers to the at least one reference sample and the referenceanalytical data for being provided to the cloud server 144 via the firstcommunication interface 156 and, independently, to a first processingunit 164 further comprised by the first server 146. Further, the firstsever 146 may comprise a second data storage device 166, wherein thesecond data storage device 166 may be configured to store the treatmentdata for being provided to the at least one third server 150, 150′.Further, the first processing unit 164 as comprised by the first sever146 may be configured to generate the treatment data by using thereference spectral information and the reference analytical data asprovided by the first data storage device 162 as well as the at leastone value for the at least one parameter as provided by the cloud server144 via the first communication interface 156. Herein, the first datastorage device 162 and the second data storage device 166 may becomprised by a single data storage device as indicated by the dashedlines in FIG. 1 . However, further arrangements of the first server 146may also be conceivable.

Further, the cloud server 144 and, optionally at least one cloud datastorage device 168, may be available on demand in a cloud 170 asschematically depicted in FIG. 1 . In addition, one or more furtherdevices may also contribute to the infrastructure of the cloud 170. Asgenerally, the cloud server 144 and the optional cloud data storagedevice 168 may, thus, provide computing power and data storagecapacities, respectively, without requiring a direct active managementby the user or an operator of the first server 146 or the second servers148, 148′.

Based on the infrastructure as depicted in FIG. 1 , the cloud server 144to be used by the present invention is configured to

-   -   generate the calibration model by using the reference spectral        information which refers to the at least one reference sample        and the reference analytical data as provided by the first        server 146, wherein the calibration model comprises at least one        parameter;    -   apply the calibration model to the spectral information as        provided by the first server 146, whereby the at least one value        for the at least one parameter is extracted; and    -   provide the at least one value for the at least one parameter to        the first server 146 via the first communication interface 156.

For this purpose, a service provider who may be a different personand/or entity may be capable of providing a structure of the calibrationmodel. A indicated above, the calibration model has a structure whichcomprises one or more parameters on which the calibration model may bebased. As described above in more detail, the at least one parameter maybe selected from a regression value, a classification value, aclustering value, a sensory parameter, an extracted feature.

As further schematically depicted in FIG. 1 , the third server 150 candrive a monitor 172, which may act as a user interface designated fordisplaying at least one item of information 174, which is related to thetreatment data, to the user. Herein, the item of information 174 may beplain text, such as “remove solution”, “refill solution” or a graphicsymbol representing this kind of information. As further illustratedthere, the monitor 172 can be directly driven by the third server 150;however, the monitor 172 may also be comprised by a personal computer,which may receive the item of information 174 by the server 150.Alternatively or in addition, a mobile communication device 176,preferably selected from at least one of a smartphone, a tablet, or apersonal digital assistant, may be used, wherein the mobilecommunication device comprises a display which can be configured toprovide the at least one item of information 174 to the user, such as byapplying a specific application (“app”) configured for this purpose.Alternatively or in addition, a voice output device, such as at leastone loudspeaker 178, may be used for providing the at least one item ofinformation 174 to the user.

Alternatively or in addition, the third server 150 may be designated forproviding the treatment data directly, such as via wire-bound or awireless connection 182, or indirectly, such as via a further processingdevice (not depicted here), to a treatment unit 180. As schematicallydepicted in FIG. 1 , the treatment unit 180 may comprise at least one of

-   -   a storage container 184, which can be designated for stocking a        further amount of the solution 114 and being capable of        providing a portion thereof to the receptacle 116, such as        indicated by a dotted arrow;    -   a waste container 186, which can be designated for receiving        used liquid 188 from the receptacle, such as indicated by a        further dotted arrow, for example, by providing an opening        signal to a valve 190;    -   a temperature control unit 192, which can be designated for        being capable of altering a temperature of the solution 114 as        comprised by the receptacle 116, in particular by cooling or        heating the solution 114, such as through the wall 122 and/or        the bottom 124 of the receptacle 116, in order to change a        property of the solution 114, for example a viscosity of the        solution 114.

However, further kinds of treatment units 180, such as those indicatedin the description above or others, may also be conceivable.

Alternatively or in addition, the third server 150 may be designated forproviding the treatment data to at least one simulation system (notdepicted here), wherein the simulation system may be comprised by atleast one of the third server 150 or a further processing device (notdepicted here). For further details with regard to the simulationsystem, reference can be made to the description above.

As further depicted in FIG. 1 , an additional server 198 can, togetherwith an additional interface 199, be used for generating and maintainingthe infrastructure within the cloud server 144 as indicated in FIG. 1which is designated for performing the operations within the cloudserver 144 of generating the calibration model by using the referencespectral information which refers to the at least one reference sampleand the reference analytical data as provided by the first server 146,of applying the calibration model to the spectral information asprovided by the second server 148, 148′, thereby extracting the at leastone value for the at least one parameter, and of providing the at leastone value for the at least one parameter to the first server 146 via thefirst communication interface 156.

As indicated above, FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative configuration fora communication path with respect to the second communication interface158, 158′. In this further preferred embodiment of the monitoring system110 according to the present invention, which comprises the alternativeconfiguration for the communication system 140, each secondcommunication interface 158, 158′ as comprised by each second server148, 148′ may be configured, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 , toindirectly provide the spectral information to the cloud server 144. Forthis purpose, each second communication interface 158, 158′ may bedirected to the first server 146 which, in this preferred embodiment,may be configured to receive the spectral information from each secondcommunication interface 158, 158′ and to provide it to the cloud server144 by using a fourth communication interface 194, which can beconfigured to, subsequently, provide the spectral information to thecloud server 144.

Herein, the spectral information may simply be redirected it to thefourth communication interface 194 without exerting any application tothe spectral information. However, as further depicted in FIG. 2 , thefirst server 146 may, in addition, comprise a second processing unit 196which may be configured to alter the spectral information in a fashionas described above in more detail.

For further details with respect to the further embodiment of themonitoring system 110, in particular of the communication system 140 asschematically depicted in FIG. 2 , reference may be made to thedescription of the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1 and describedabove.

As indicated above, the communication system 140 is comprised by themonitoring system 110 for the in-situ monitoring of the at least onesubstance 112 as used in a gas scrubbing process. With particular regardto the present invention, the communication interfaces may, preferably,comprise an OASE® connect software system, in particular for datatransmission between at least two components of the communication system140, in particular the second server 148, 148′ which receives thespectral information from the optical spectrometer 130, and the thirdserver 150 which receives the treatment data to be provided to the user.As a result, the OASE® connect software system may send and/or receivedata to and/or from the cloud server 144 and/or the first server 146,using an OASE® connect portal with OASE® connect Sample Analytics plusdigilab installed and an OASE® connect backend server, preferablylocated behind a firewall. Consequently, the user can only communicatewith the OASE® connect backend via the OASE® connect Sample Analyticsafter being authenticated via a two-factor authentication. Further, Auser interface provided by the OASE® connect Sample Analytics plusdigilab, may be configured to display the recommended procedure to theuser.

The above systems and methods as described herein can be embeddeddirectly in a plant control system in order to calculate a performanceof an overall plant with the latest measured solvent state and to mimica digital twin, in particular in combination with using further DCS datasuch as temperatures pressures and flow rates. Herein, the communicationwith the plant control system can be performed via the OASE® connectCAPE-OPEN standard interface implementation.

Further, the analyzed sample results can be shown to the user incomparison to the aggregate of sample results of other plants using asimilar technology, so that the user easily sees how his solventcompares to this reference components.

Further, similar to the OASE® solution measurement, also a gas-phaseanalysis can be implemented into the OASE® connect software platform.

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of the optical probe120, which is designated for measuring optical signals that are relatedto the substance 112. As schematically depicted there, the optical probe120 may comprise a mount 210 to which a first tube 212 and a second tube214 are attached. For this purpose, screws 216, 218 may be used.However, other kinds of attachment may also be feasible. Herein, themount 210 may, preferably, be a rigid mount, thus, being capable ofproviding a desired stability to the optical probe 120, while at leastone of the tubes 212, 214 may, preferably, be a flexible tube, thus,providing a certain level of flexibility to the tubes 212, 214.

As already indicated above, the optical probe 120 may be comprised by aflow cell which may be located in the solvent loop of the acid gasremoval plant and/or installed in a laboratory designated for processinga sample comprising the solution 114. However, further embodiments mayalso be feasible. Herein, a small quantity, in particular of 0.5 ml to10 ml, of the solution 114 can, preferably, be injected into the flowcell having walls in the laboratory at temperature of 10° C. to 50° C.Due to a fast thermal equilibration with the walls of the flow cell, thesolution 114 can, advantageously, be characterized at or close to roomtemperature, wherein the term “room temperature” usually refers to atemperature of 20° C. to 25° C. Further, the solution 114 may pass afilter (not depicted here) prior to characterization, whereby particlesmay be removed from the solution 114. Further, the solution 114 may beinserted into the flow cell in a fashion that an occurrence of bubblesmay be avoided in order not to disturb any optical measurement signals.

In a preferred embodiment, the optical probe 120 may comprise a setupwhich can be used for an optical measurement in at least one of atransmittance, a transflexion or a reflection geometry. As shown in FIG.3 , the transmittance geometry may, especially, be preferred in case thesubstance 112 to be monitored comprises the at least one solution 114 asindicated above in more detail. Herein, the setup for the transmittancegeometry can, preferably, be designated for guiding light through athickness d of a layer of the substance 112 to be monitored, inparticular of 0.1 mm, preferably of 0.2 mm, more preferred of 0.5 mm, to5 mm, preferably of to 2.5 mm, more preferred to 2 mm, especially of 1mm. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , a location of opticalmeasurement is provided by a gap 220 in the mount 210, which defines thethickness of the layer of the substance 112 to be monitored.

However, in case the substance 112 to be monitored comprises a bulkmaterial, a reflection geometry, such as an attenuated total reflectiongeometry, may be more preferred.

In the preferred embodiment as depicted in FIG. 3 , the setup for theoptical probe 120, which is designated for the optical measurement inthe transmittance geometry, the first tube 212 is designated forreceiving a first connection 222 while the second tube 214 is designatedfor receiving a second connection 224. Herein, the first connection 222is provided between the location of the optical measurement and theoptical spectrometer 130 in order to guide the optical signals, whichare measured by the optical probe 120 at the location of the opticalmeasurement, while the second connection 224 is provided between thelight source 132 and the location of the optical measurement in order toguide the light to the location of the optical measurement. Herein, theconnections 222, 224 may, preferably, be a wire-bound connection,especially optical waveguides, however, a wireless connection can,alternatively or in addition, also be used. The connections 222, 224 maybe attached to a branch of the connection 126 as mentioned above inconnection with in FIGS. 1 and 2 by using an adapted sealing 226 and acorresponding coupling 228 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3 .However, further kinds of attachments may also be conceivable.

In addition, the optical probe 120 may comprise an additional sensor(not depicted here), which may be designated for which may be designatedfor measuring additional substance-related information of the at leastone substance 112 further related thereto in addition to the at leastone piece of information about the at least one substance 112 which isacquired by using the optical spectrometer 130. Herein, the furthersubstance-related information may, preferably, be selected from at leastone of: a temperature, a density, a flux, a conductivity, a viscosity,electromagnetic fields, a dielectric constant, a refractive index, afluorescence, a phosphorescence, a magnetization value, a pH Value, abuffering capacity, an acid value, or a zeta-potential. However, furtherkinds of additional substance-related information may also be feasible.Herein, the additional sensor may, preferably, be attached to the mount210, wherein leads for a power supply or a data read-out could,preferably, be guided via at least one of the first tube 212 and thesecond tube 214. In addition, further elements which can be attached tothe optical probe 120 are conceivable.

It is indicated here that, apart from the preferred exemplaryembodiments of the monitoring system 110 according to the presentinvention as shown in FIG. 1 or 2 , further embodiments of themonitoring system 110 may also be conceivable.

FIG. 4 illustrates, in a highly schematic fashion, acomputer-implemented method 310 for an in-situ monitoring of thesubstance 112, wherein the method 310 for the in-situ monitoring of thesubstance 112 comprises the steps of a computer-implemented method 312for operating the communication system 140.

In a reference acquisition step 314 according to step (i), at least oneoptical reference spectrum of at least one reference sample is acquired.As described above in more detail, each reference sample comprises thesubstance 112 to be monitored, wherein the reference analytical data areassigned to each reference sample. For this purpose, the at least oneoptical reference spectrum can, in particular, be acquired by measuringthe at least one optical reference sample with a same type of the system110 for the in-situ monitoring of the substance 112, preferably at thesame the same temperatures. As an alternative, the at least one opticalreference spectrum can be adjusted for at least one of known temperatureeffects or known deviations of at least one of the optical spectrometer130 or the optical probe 120. Further, the reference spectralinformation is derived in the reference acquisition step 314 from the atleast one optical reference spectrum of at least one reference sampleand, preferably, stored together with the reference analytical data inthe first data storage device 162 of the first server 146 for beingprovided to the cloud server 144 via the first communication interface156.

In an acquisition step 316 according to step (ii), at least one opticalspectrum of the substance 112 is acquired in-situ by the opticalspectrometer 130, preferably by using the optical probe 120, asdescribed above in more detail. Herein, the desired spectral informationis derived from the at least one optical spectrum of the substance 112.

In an operation step 318 according to step (iii), the steps of themethod 312 for operating the communication system 140, preferably foroperating the communication system 140 as described above in moredetail, are performed.

Herein, in a referencing step 320 according to step a), the referencespectral information which refers to the at least one reference sampleand reference analytical data as provided by the first server 146 areguided, as described above in more detail, via the first communicationinterface 156 to the cloud server 144. As indicated above, at least oneof the cloud server 144 or the at least one cloud data storage device168 could be used as data storage capacities for storing the referencespectral information and reference analytical data, in particular forlater use in the following step b).

In a calibrating step 322 according to step b), a calibration model isgenerated in the cloud server 144 by using the reference spectralinformation which refers to the at least one reference sample and thereference analytical data as being provided to the cloud server 144 inthe referencing step 320. As described above in more detail, thecalibration model comprises at least one parameter both of which can,preferably, be determined by using the computing power as provided bythe cloud server 144 and, if required, be stored in at least one of thecloud server 144 or the at least one cloud data storage device 168, inparticular for late use in the following step c).

In a providing step 324 according to step c), the spectral informationis provided from the at least one second server 158, 158′ to the cloudserver 144. As described above in more detail, the spectral informationis provided by each second server 148, 148′, from where it may be guidedto the cloud server 144 on a direct route via the at least one secondcommunication interface 158, 158′ as schematically depicted in FIG. 1 ,or on an indirect route involving the at least one second communicationinterface 158, 158′, the first server 146, and the fourth communicationinterface 194 as schematically depicted in FIG. 2 . In the indirectroute, the spectral information may pass the first server 146 with orwithout exerting any application to the spectral information. As alreadydescribed above, the spectral information can, preferably, be stored inthe cloud server 144, in particular for immediate use in the followingstep d). However, the spectral information may also be stored in the atleast one cloud data storage device 168.

In a parametrization step 326 according to step d), the calibrationmodel is applied in the cloud server 144 to the spectral information. Inthis manner, at least one value for the at least one parameter isextracted from the particular spectral information, preferably by usingthe computing power as provided by the cloud server 144, for whichpurpose the reference spectral information which refers to the at leastone reference sample and the reference analytical data, which are storedin at least one of the cloud server 144 or, preferably, the at least onecloud data storage device 168, are used. Preferably, the at least oneparameter as extracted from the particular spectral information, may bestored in the cloud server 144, in particular for immediate use in thefollowing step e).

In a supplying step 328 according to step e), the at least one value forthe at least one parameter is supplied, preferably directly from thecloud server 144, to the first server 146 by using the firstcommunication interface 156. As already indicated above, the first sever146 may, preferably, comprise the first processing unit 164, where theat least one value for the at least one parameter can, preferably, bestored, in particular for immediate use in the following step f).

In a determining step 330 according to step f), treatment data isdetermined, preferably in the first server 146, by using the at leastone value for the at least one parameter as provided by the cloud server144 to the first server 146 via the first communication interface 156and, preferably, the reference spectral information which refers to theat least one reference sample and the reference analytical data asprovided by the first data storage device 162. For this purpose, thefirst processing unit 164 may, preferably, be used as already indicatedabove in more detail.

In an information step 332 according to step g), the treatment data areprovided from the first server 146 via the at least one thirdcommunication interface 160, 160′ to the at least one third server 150,150′. For this purpose, the at least one third server 150, 150′ candrive the monitor 172, which may act as the user interface designatedfor displaying the at least one item of information 174 related to thetreatment data to the user. Alternatively or in addition, the mobilecommunication device 176 may act as the user interface. Alternatively orin addition, the loudspeaker 178 may provide the at least one item ofinformation 174 to the user in an acoustic manner. Alternatively or inaddition, the at least one third server 150, 150′ may be designated forproviding the treatment data to a treatment unit 180 as described abovein more detail, such as schematically depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 .Alternatively or in addition, the at least one third server 150, 150′may be designated for providing the treatment data to at least onesimulation system as further described above.

In a treatment step 334 according to step (iv), the substance 112 is,thus, treated in accordance with the treatment data by at least one ofthe user or the treatment unit 180.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a temperature-induced shift inabsorbance spectra having a wavenumber of 7000 cm⁻1 to 8000 cm⁻1. Asdepicted there, a value for the absorbance of a substance 112, which isdefined as 1 minus the value of the transmittance of the substance 112,in general, varies with the temperature of the flow cell in which theabsorbance of the substance 112 is measured. Consequently, it ispreferred to perform the absorbance measurement of the substance 112 ator close to room temperature in order to minimize an influence of thetemperature of the measurement results.

FIGS. 6 to 8 each illustrates a diagram presenting the referencespectral information and the reference analytical data for a particularsubstance 112 to be used in a corresponding calibration model. HereinFIG. 6 refers to a measurement of the water content, FIG. 7 to ameasurement of the MDEA content, and FIG. 8 to a measurement of thepiperazine content, respectively. In each diagram the horizontal axisrepresents a true measured content in wt. % of the correspondingsubstance 112 while the vertical axis represents a mean of obtainedpredictions on reference test set comprising a plurality of referencesamples. The error bars attached to the samples represent the standarddeviation of the prediction.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   110 monitoring system-   112 substance-   114 solution-   116 receptacle-   118 level-   120 optical probe-   122 wall-   124 bottom-   126 connection-   128 optical waveguide-   130 optical spectrometer-   132 light source-   134 dispersive element-   136 detector array-   138 evaluation unit-   140 communication system-   142 long dashed lines-   144 could server-   146 first server-   148 second server-   150 third server-   152 pair-   154 data transfer unit-   156 first communication interface-   158 second communication interface-   160 third communication interface-   162 first data storage device-   164 first processing unit-   166 second data storage device-   168 cloud data storage device-   170 cloud-   172 monitor-   174 item of information-   176 mobile communication device-   178 loudspeaker-   180 treatment unit-   182 connection-   184 storage container-   186 waste container-   188 used liquid-   190 valve-   192 temperature control unit-   194 fourth communication interface-   196 second processing unit-   198 additional server-   199 additional interface-   210 mount-   212 first tube-   214 second tube-   216 screw-   218 screw-   220 gap-   222 first connection-   224 second connection-   226 sealing-   228 coupling-   310 computer-implemented method for an in-situ monitoring of the    substance-   312 computer-implemented method for operating the communication    system-   314 reference acquisition step-   316 acquisition step-   318 operation step-   320 referencing step-   322 calibrating step-   324 providing step-   326 parametrization step-   328 supplying step-   330 determining step-   332 information step-   334 treatment step

1. A communication system comprising a cloud server, a first server, atleast one second server, and at least one third server; wherein thefirst server further comprises a first communication interfaceconfigured to provide reference spectral information referring to atleast one reference sample and reference analytical data to the cloudserver; wherein each second server comprises a second communicationinterface configured to provide spectral information related to at leastone substance to the cloud server; wherein the cloud server isconfigured to: generate a calibration model by using the referencespectral information referring to the at least one reference sample andthe reference analytical data provided by the first server, wherein thecalibration model comprises at least one parameter; apply thecalibration model to the spectral information related to the at leastone substance provided by the second server, whereby at least one valuefor the at least one parameter is extracted; and provide the at leastone value for the at least one parameter to the first server via thefirst communication interface; wherein the first server is furtherconfigured to determine treatment data by using the at least one valuefor the at least one parameter provided by the cloud server, wherein thetreatment data comprise at least one piece of data which is related to aproposed treatment of the at least one substance; and wherein the firstserver further comprises at least one third communication interface,wherein each third communication interface is configured to provide thetreatment data to the at least one third server.
 2. The communicationsystem according to claim 1, wherein the second communication interfaceis configured to provide the spectral information directly or indirectlyto the cloud server, wherein the spectral information is providedindirectly to the cloud server by providing the spectral information tothe first server, wherein the first server further comprises a fourthcommunication interface configured to provide the spectral informationfrom the first server to the cloud server.
 3. The communication systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the third server comprises or drives auser interface designated for displaying at least one item ofinformation related to the treatment data to a user.
 4. Thecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the third server isdesignated for providing the treatment data to at least one of atreatment unit or a simulation system.
 5. The communication systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the second server and the third server areintegrated into a single unit.
 6. A monitoring system for in-situmonitoring of at least one substance used in a gas scrubbing process,the monitoring system comprising: a communication system according toclaim 1; an optical spectrometer designated for: acquiring spectralinformation related to the at least one substance; and providing thespectral information to at least one server.
 7. The monitoring systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the optical spectrometer is designated forproviding the spectral information related to the at least one substanceto at least one second server of the communication system.
 8. Themonitoring system according to claim 6, further comprising at least oneof: at least one light source designated for illuminating at least aportion of the at least one substance; an optical probe designated formeasuring optical signals related to the at least one substance; a firstconnection between the optical probe and the optical spectrometerdesignated for guiding the measured optical signals to the opticalspectrometer; a second connection between the light source and theoptical probe designated for guiding light to the optical probe; a datatransfer unit designated for connection between the optical spectrometerand the second server.
 9. The monitoring system according to claim 8,wherein the second server, the optical spectrometer and the datatransfer unit are integrated into a single unit.
 10. The monitoringsystem according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the firstconnection and the second connection comprises an optical waveguide. 11.The monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein the optical probecomprises a setup for at least one geometry selected from the groupconsisting of a transmittance geometry, a transflexion geometry, or areflection geometry.
 12. A computer-implemented method for operating acommunication system, the communication system comprising a cloudserver, a first server, at least one second server, and at least onethird server, wherein the method comprises: a) providing referencespectral information referring to at least one reference sample andreference analytical data from the first server via a firstcommunication interface to the cloud server; b) generating a calibrationmodel in the cloud server by using the reference spectral informationreferring to at least one reference sample and the reference analyticaldata, wherein the calibration model comprises at least one parameter; c)providing spectral information related to at least one substance fromthe second server via a second communication interface to the cloudserver; d) applying the calibration model in the cloud server to thespectral information related to the at least one substance, whereby atleast one value for the at least one parameter is extracted; e)providing the at least one value for the at least one parameter to thefirst server via the first communication interface; f) determiningtreatment data by using the at least one value for the at least oneparameter provided by the cloud server to the first server, wherein thetreatment data comprise at least one piece of data which is related to aproposed treatment of the at least one substance; and g) providing thetreatment data from the first server via a third communication interfaceto the third server.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein thespectral information is provided directly or indirectly to the cloudserver, wherein the spectral information is provided indirectly to thecloud server by providing the spectral information to the first serverand providing the spectral information from the first server to thecloud server via a fourth communication interface of the first server.14. A computer-implemented method for in-situ monitoring of at least onesubstance used in a gas scrubbing process, wherein the method comprises:(i) acquiring at least one optical reference spectrum of at least onereference sample, wherein each reference sample comprises the at leastone substance to be monitored, wherein reference analytical data areassigned to each reference sample, and deriving reference spectralinformation referring to the at least one reference sample from the atleast one optical reference spectrum; (ii) acquiring at least oneoptical spectrum of the at least one substance in-situ, and derivingspectral information related to the at least one substance in-situ fromthe at least one optical spectrum; (iii) performing the steps of themethod according to claim 12; and (iv) treating the at least onesubstance in accordance with the treatment data.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein at least one item of information relatedto the treatment data is displayed to a user via a user interface, or isprovided to at least one of a treatment unit or a simulation system.